In a pre-budget consultation meeting with the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held in New Delhi on 24 June, the representatives of central trade union organisations and employees’ federations criticised the former for not holding such consultations during previous years. The CTUs also reminded the government of the highest workers’ tripartite forum, the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) which has not been called since the NDA governments came to power ten years ago.
In view of the NDA government’s policies meant only to help a few corporates which have taken the country to huge disparities and alarming levels of unemployment, hunger and malnutrition, the central trade union organisations put forward some concrete suggestions for the next budget to increase the purchasing power of the people.
The major suggestions for the Budget 2024-2025 included increasing the corporate tax, wealth tax and introducing inheritance tax instead of burdening common masses with the GST on essential food items and medicine. They also demanded that the ceiling limit for the income tax rebate for the salaried class must be substantially raised.
The CTUs also asked to set up social security fund for the unorganised workers and agricultural workers along with universal social security schemes including minimum pension of Rs.9000 per month and other medical, educational benefits.
The unions demanded for small farmers/ agriculture workers/ sharecroppers to be included under the Kisan Sanmaan Yojana. Similarly, the agriculture workers/ sharecroppers should also be included under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and to increase allocation for MNREGS to ensure 200 days of work. The new Pension Scheme must be scrapped and benefits defined in the old pension scheme must be restored.
The other major demands included to institute 8th Pay Commission, scrapping of four Labour Codes, Minimum wages of not less than Rs.26000 per month and to stop privatisation of PSU’s and National Monetisation pipeline process.
The trade unions also emphasised measures to contain prices of commodities, to regularise the scheme workers, and for MSP to farmers as per recommendations of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Commission with guaranteed procurement.
