Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh calls for observing 'black day' on February 20

NEW DELHI: RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has called for a nationwide protest and observing February 20 as 'black day' against the 'anti-labour' policies of the government, threatening that absence of any action from the government may result in BMS boycotting the upcoming Indian Labour Conference.

"The national executive committee strongly condemns the central government for not keeping any of its promises made to BMS delegation on 17 November 2017 after the historical Delhi rally," Vrijesh Upadhyay, general secretary of BMS said in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the statement, the protest is against the negligent attitude of central government towards labour problems.


Indian workers belonging to different Central Trade Unions have put forth burning issues of labour before the government. "But the Union Budget 2018 was totally silent about any of the issues raised by Unions," it said.

The executive committee has directed all its districts, state and industrial federations to hold Dharnas, huge demonstrations at District Head quarters, State Capitals and Industrial Estates on 26 & 27 February 2018.

"In this connection, a huge demonstration before ILC venue will also be organised at New Delhi on 26th February to mount pressure of Central Government to resolve labour issues," it said.

The major demands of BMS among 24 main demands are increasing honorarium to Aanganwadi workers and also bringing them under Social Security coverage, Reimbursement of Cess amount to concerned labour welfare boards affected due to GST, Enhancing EPS pension from Rs1000/ to Rs5000/, Providing special funds to Sick PSUs which can be revived, Hiking Income Tax exemptions to salaried sections up to Rs 5 Lakhs.

The other demands include withdrawing anti-labour provisions bringing under the garb of Labour Law Reforms, Hiking Unorganised Social Security fund up to Rs 2000/ crores, Implementation of Supreme Court verdict on Equal pay to Equal work, Resolve problems of Contract workers etc.