2 weeks ago
BMS announces nationwide demonstrations on August 17 over workers' demands
A big group of workers in India called the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh is not happy with the government.
They say workers are not getting enough money when they retire, so they want bigger pensions.
They also want the government to pay more attention to people who do important jobs like Anganwadi helpers, who take care of little kids.
These workers say they work very long hours but are not officially recognized as workers.
The union has many demands, like higher pay limits for insurance and savings plans for workers.
They also want workers to get fair bonuses and gratuity when they leave a job.
The group says some new government rules are not fair to workers and wants them changed.
To show how serious they are, the union is planning big peaceful rallies, called demonstrations, all across India on August 17.
They will give letters to government leaders asking them to listen to workers' problems.
Their hope is that the government will make life better and fairer for all workers.
Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) announced nationwide demonstrations on August 17 to press the Centre to resolve long-pending workers' issues.
Demands include raising the minimum pension to Rs 7,500 under the Employee Pension Scheme (EP-95) and linking it with Variable Dearness Allowance and Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
The union seeks an increase in the Employees' State Insurance wage ceiling from Rs 21,000 to Rs 42,000 and the Employee Provident Fund ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000.
BMS strongly opposes the Industrial Relations Code and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, calling their provisions 'anti-worker'.
The union also demanded recognition for scheme workers — a workforce exceeding 10 million — with equal pay, higher honorarium, and an exclusive policy for India's unorganised sector.
- Who
- Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a trade union led by general secretary Surendra Kumar Pandey
- What
- Announced nationwide demonstrations, rallies and dharnas to press for long-pending workers' demands including higher pensions, increased wage ceilings and recognition of scheme workers
- Where
- Across India at district headquarters, with the announcement made in New Delhi
- When
- August 17, announced on Thursday, August 13
- Why
- To mount pressure on the Centre to resolve long-pending problems of labourers and address allegedly anti-worker provisions in new labour codes
Key facts
- Trade union
- Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)
- Demonstration date
- August 17
- Minimum pension demand
- Rs 7,500 under Employee Pension Scheme (EP-95)
- ESI ceiling demand
- Raise from Rs 21,000 to Rs 42,000
- EPF ceiling demand
- Raise from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000
- Mobilisation
- 28 state units and 42 industrial federations directed to organise protests
- Scheme workers workforce
- Exceeds 10 million
- BMS general secretary
- Surendra Kumar Pandey
Quotes
BMS general secretary Surendra Kumar Pandey
General Secretary of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh
“"A new policy, as per the changing world of work, is needed. No other country has such a massive workforce in the unorganised sector. So, the BMS demands that the Government work out an exclusive policy suitable to India."”
theprint.in









