RSS' trade arm threatens nationwide protest over labour rules

RSS-affiliate trade union the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh has demanded the government immediately withdraw its notification on fixed-term employment and to stop the exploitation of contract labour in the absence of which it has threatened to go a nationwide protest on September 6.

A decision to this effect has been taken at the 142nd central working committee meeting of BMS, Vrijesh Upadhyay, general secretary of BMS, said.

According to a statement issued by BMS, increasing number of contract workers and their extreme exploitation and harassment along with open violation of all labour laws concerning contract workers has created huge resentment among the entire labour sector.


Highlighting some of the exploitative measures towards contract workers, BMS said contract workers are often deprived of minimum wages, dearness allowance and are even denied of any kind of social security including provident fund, pension, medical benefits, gratuity, leaves besides even overtime wages and bonus.

BMS is of the view that owing to government ban on new recruitment, contract labour system expanded rapidly creating shortage of permanent employees in government departments as well as making it a means of enhancing profit.

“Contract labour has now become the default model of employment in India with 67% of the organized sector workers belonging to this category,” it said adding that if the issue is not resolved in time new conditions of bonded labour will be created in the country where there will be no security or basic rights for the labourers.

At its CWC meeting, BMS has asked government to convene an immediate meeting of the central advisory contract labour board (CACLB) and take steps to prevent the widespread exploitation of contract labour. Besides, BMS has called for amendment of the Contract Workers’ Act to provide them with decent work conditions, make minimum wages for contract workers compulsory in non-perennial jobs, regularise contract labour and make principal employer more liable.

“Contract workers should be ensured bonus, EPF, ESI, pension, gratuity etc,”BMS said, adding that government consider contract workers as workers of principal employer and provide for regularization of contract workers in the Act in case of violation of Section 7 and 12 of the Act.