Trade unions unappeased after meeting PM Narendra Modi in absence of any concrete assurance
By ET Bureau | 20 Jul, 2015, 02.30AM IST
NEW DELHI: There was no breakthrough during Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's hour-long meeting with a dozen central trade unions on
Sunday. This could make it difficult for the BJP-led government to get
some key labour legislations passed in the upcoming monsoon session of
Parliament as trade unions are opposing reforms. "The PM just listened
to us and did not say anything. There has been no assurance and we will
continue with our plan to go for a nationwide strike in September," Gurudas Dasgupta of All India Trade Union Congress told the media.
These include amendment to the EPF & MP Act to give employees an option to park their savings with NPS, amendment to the Child Labour Act, introduction of the Small Factories Act and amendments to the Bonus Act. An inter-ministerial group had earlier in the day indicated that the government is on board with some of the key demands of trade unions, including social security for all and recognition of trade unions. However, it said differences still persist on key issues of contract labour and minimum wages.
"It was a positive discussion and the finance minister has taken cognisance of all issues raised," petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said. Finance minister Arun Jaitley-led interministerial group — comprising labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, power minister Piyush Goyal and minister of finance Jayant Sinha — met central trade unions on Sunday in the afternoon after which Modi met the unions in the evening. "There are huge gaps on the issues of contract labour and minimum wages," said Dattatreya.
"Prime Minister's inaugural speech at the ILC will determine our future course of actions," said Pawan Kumar of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, a BJP affiliate TU. Unions have condemned the government's move to codify all labour laws, saying it is an attempt to dilute existing laws.
These include amendment to the EPF & MP Act to give employees an option to park their savings with NPS, amendment to the Child Labour Act, introduction of the Small Factories Act and amendments to the Bonus Act. An inter-ministerial group had earlier in the day indicated that the government is on board with some of the key demands of trade unions, including social security for all and recognition of trade unions. However, it said differences still persist on key issues of contract labour and minimum wages.
"It was a positive discussion and the finance minister has taken cognisance of all issues raised," petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said. Finance minister Arun Jaitley-led interministerial group — comprising labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, power minister Piyush Goyal and minister of finance Jayant Sinha — met central trade unions on Sunday in the afternoon after which Modi met the unions in the evening. "There are huge gaps on the issues of contract labour and minimum wages," said Dattatreya.
"Prime Minister's inaugural speech at the ILC will determine our future course of actions," said Pawan Kumar of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, a BJP affiliate TU. Unions have condemned the government's move to codify all labour laws, saying it is an attempt to dilute existing laws.
Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
PM meets Trade Union Leaders
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Prime Minister's Office19-July-2015 19:57 IST
Government of India
Prime Minister's Office19-July-2015 19:57 IST
PM meets Trade Union Leaders
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met leaders from various Trade Unions, over tea. The meeting followed extensive consultations that these leaders had with an inter-ministerial team headed by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, earlier in the day.
The Prime Minister heard the views of the Trade Union leaders on various issues of interest to workers, including in areas related to economic policy, and related laws.
The Trade Unions represented at the meeting included AITUC, All India United Trade Union Centre, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, CITU, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Hind Mazdoor Sangh, INTUC, Labour Progressive Federation, National Front of Indian Trade Unions, Self-Employed Women's Association, Trade Union Coordination Centre, and United Trade Union Congress.
Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Shri Piyush Goyal and Dr. Jitendra Singh were present at the meeting.
