BMS softens stand on labour reforms

NEW DELHI: The day after Prime Minister A B Vajpayee pitched hard for labour reforms, there seems to be a softening among trade unions. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the country’s biggest national TU, on Thursday appeared to ease its tooth-and-nail opposition to labour reforms by saying there was scope for negotiations.
It said there could be talks with the government on the issue since “things are different now as the government is going about the reforms issue the proper way�.
BMS is part of the Sangh Parivar but on labour reforms it has so far opposed the government while aligning with other TUs on the issue. Its latest stand — articulated by general secretary H Dave to ET — signifies a break in the TU ranks. Mr Dave explained that “things were now different� because the second labour commission has submitted its report, recommending a toned down exit policy.
BMS had given a strong dissent note to the report. Its change of tack today might indicate that political bigwigs of BJP have been able to exert their influence on BMS.