Trade unions, including BJP-supported BMS, today termed the Budget as 'anti-worker' and 'pro-corporate' and said they would oppose them.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has decided to stage protest against this 'anti-worker' budget across the nation and at Jantar Mantar (Delhi) on March 2, said a BMS statement.
According to the statement, the budget has disappointed the working class because government has given no income tax relief in them even as it decided to do away with wealth tax and unveiled a roadmap to lower corporate tax rate.
The decision to remove custom duty on 22 items would affect domestic industry and create unemployment, it said.
On the proposal to use unclaimed deposits lying with EPFO, the unions said this was a hard earned money and the Centre would not be allowed to 'misuse' these funds.
On the proposal of providing option to formal sector worker to choose between EPF and NPS as also between ESIC and health insurance schemes, BMS said that this indicates the government's intention to provide benefits to private firms.
Echoing similar views, All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said: "This is a pro-corporate and anti-worker budget."
On the government's proposal on EPFO and Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) schemes, he said, "Government wants to dilute the social security system in the country for poor workers.
