BMS demands scheme for workers who lost jobs due to notes ban

RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has asked the government to review the General Budget it presented on Tuesday and provide relief to working class, particularly those who lost their jobs following demonetisation.
The union has also opposed the government's move over setting a huge target of over Rs 70,000 crore through divesting its stake in public sector undertakings.
The central trade union has also expressed unhappiness over a meagre tax relief given to the salaried class saying it is insufficient in view of implementation of the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission.
BMS, in a letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, said, "There was an expectation of a scheme for providing relief to workers who got unemployed due to demonetisation. But there is no mention about that in the Budget."

"As many as 2.5 lakh units in unorganised sector were closed and the real estate sector was badly affected where a large number of workers got unemployed. But the working class is disappointed due to no mention about any scheme or relief for them in the Budget despite huge deposits in the banks after notes ban."
BMS also pointed out that there was no mention of any relief for Anganwadi and other scheme workers like wage hike. Last month, a BMS-led delegation of these workers had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on January 23, to apprise him about the difficulties facing them.

At present, more than 61 lakh scheme workers (Aanganwadi, Aasha, Mid-Day Meal etc.) are working in the country.

The union is also unhappy with the Finance Minister's mention about continuing labour reforms and amalgamation of over 44 labour laws in four codes knowing that there was a strong opposition against certain amendments by all central trade unions.
The union said that some states like Rajasthan, has also pressed ahead with labour reforms on the premise that it would boost investments but it did not work.
"The mention about labour reforms in Union Budget is like encroachment. It is illogical. This should not be part of the Budget. It is not sensible to go ahead with labour reforms on Rajasthan model," BMS said.