In the pre-budget consultations held on 6th January 2025 with the finance minister, a united platform of ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) submitted a joint memorandum to the outlining a series of demands to address rising unemployment, safeguard workers' rights, and reverse policies that favour corporate interests over public welfare. The unions warned that the continuation of the current regime's anti-worker policies would lead to escalating inequality.
In the memorandum that was submitted to Finance Minister, Unions condemned the growing anti-worker policies of the government. The memorandum stated that “we, the representatives of the wealth creators, the working class of the country are participating in this pre-budget consultations only out of our confidence in the democracy and constitution of the country. We are compelled to state this as not a single suggestion by the trade unions was considered while preparing the budget or any policy of your previous governments.”
Sucheta De of AICCTU participated in the consultative meeting and later noted that the Trade Unions are also preparing for a country wise protest if the budget further betrays the interest of the people.
The union reiterated their demand for withdrawal of four Labour Codes. The union once again demanded to address the unemployment issue, to fill the sanctioned vacant posts in PSUs and the central and state Government departments, to lift the ban on creation of new posts, end to policy of outsourcing and contactualisation for more investments in labour intensive industries, MSMEs, more of generation of livelihood schemes for self-employment, increase in days of MGNREGA to 200 with wage increase for Rs 600/-, initiation of new policy for urban employment guarantee etc.
CTU also called for role back of the policies of privatisation, disinvestment and sale of PSUs and Government services to private players. They called for restoration of OPS.
They also demanded for increase in threshold of EPF and ESIC for coverage as well as to extend the coverage for the benefit of informal economy workforce including gig/app-based workers and domestic workers steadily to make these statutory schemes inclusive. Scheme Workers viz. Anganwadi, Mid-Day-Meal, ASHA workers, ASHA kiran, block facilitators, para teachers and other scheme workers should be regularised as workers with attendant rights of increased statutory minimum wage, social security and other benefits including pension in accordance with consensus recommendation of ILC and recent order of Gujarat High court. The unions also called for an increase in the allocations for all central schemes providing the basic services like ICDS, MDMS, NHM etc. Strengthen the schemes to ensure quality services of nutrition, health and education as well as child care services to all, especially the unorganised sector workers. Furthermore, they demanded for ensuring allocations for implementation of the Supreme Court Order on Gratuity to anganwadi workers and helpers and extend it to all scheme workers.
In a scathing criticism, the unions highlighted the fact that it has been nearly a decade since the highest tripartite forum, the Indian Labour Conference (ILC), was convened under the NDA government. The only ILC held during the NDA's tenure unanimously recommended the implementation of earlier ILC resolutions. These recommendations, agreed upon by all stakeholders—Central Government, State Governments, Employers’ Organisations, and Trade Unions—have been completely ignored.
The unions also raised concerns about skyrocketing prices of essential commodities. They said the increase in the prices of petroleum products induced increase of duties and essential services should be immediately contained with concrete ameliorative measures. Speculative forward trading and hoarding of food items has to be curbed and universal public distribution system should be strengthened including all essential food items to contain price rise.
Regarding generation of more revenues, the CTUs said that that government should raise the tax on corporates, introduce wealth tax, and gift tax. The memorandum noted that “over the decades, corporate tax rates have been slashed down unjustly and at the same time increasing indirect tax burden on common people resulted in an utterly regressive tax structure. That must be corrected in the interests of fairness, equity and propriety. Even one percent inheritance tax on the super- rich with the ceiling can fetch huge amount to the budget receipts.”
The unions also raised the farmers’ issue and called for ensuring statutory Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all the farm produce as per recommendations of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Commission with guaranteed procurement.
