Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will hold a protest rally at Delhi's Ramlila Grounds on November 17, and march to the Parliament House with their charter of demands that includes a comprehensive employment policy to provide succor to contractual employees. BMS claims support of 4,287 unions and 83 lakh members across 44 sectors.
Other RSS affiliates such as Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Laghu Udyog Bharti, Grahak Panchayat and Sehkar (cooperatives) Bharti will also participate in the rally. More than 2.5 lakh workers are expected to be there.
The move comes after RSS — ruling BJP's ideological mentor — cautioned the Centre about dampening of public mood in view of demonetization-induced economic slowdown leading to unemployment, farmers' distress and resentment in the trading community.
The organisations have already got the go ahead from RSS for the rally, said sources.
BMS general secretary Brijesh Upadhyay said the call for the rally has been given after a committee of five Cabinet ministers constituted by the government failed to address their various demands.
In May last year, BMS and other RSS-affiliated organisations had decided to hold a similar rally but, following an assurance from the government that a high-powered committee of Cabinet ministers will look into their demands, decided against it at its national executive meeting held in August 2016.
"About 67% workers in the country are on contract and are facing a tough situation. There is Contract Labour Act which calls for equal pay for equal work, but the government itself is violating it despite rulings given the Supreme Court. On top of our agenda is to have a comprehensive employment policy that can remove these anomalies," said Upadhyay.
The other issue before BMS is disinvestment and strategic sale of public sector undertakings by the government. "We are not against the market economy but it should not be at the cost of disinvestment of PSUs. It is the public sector which has kept the economy running as purchasing power is not with private sector employees who are not getting even minimum wages," said Upadhyay.
Another demand of BMS is that the vast force of Aanganwadi and Asha employees should be treated as workers and brought under the Minimum Wages Act and given social security.
BMS also wants the government to address anomalies of the 7th Pay Commission. "Because of the inherent anomalies two-third of the public sector is not able to afford pay revision," said Upadhayay.
BMS has invited other workers' organisations cutting across political lines to join in the protest rally. "We will be giving our memorandum containing our charter of demands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also to the chief minsters of all states," said Upadhyay.
