NEW DELHI: The government has decided to postpone the Indian Labour Conference, which was to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi next week. The development comes in the wake of trouble brewing from the unhappy trade unions, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.
“The ILC has been postponed. Inconvenience is regretted,” the Union labour and employment ministry said in communication sent to all central trade unions on Tuesday.
A labour ministry official said, “There is so much negativity. The ministry felt this is not the right environment. Also, we sensed some trouble from trade unions, which just wanted to make some noise. We wanted to discuss real issues and do not want any trouble.”
The official added that the fresh date will be announced when the mood is “more positive” and Unions members are “ready to listen”.
The 47th ILC was scheduled on February 26 and 27 in New Delhi and the government wanted to take this opportunity to address workers in the unorganised sector.
While the government chose not to invite Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress, strong dissenting voices were coming from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh as well.
The BMS was miffed with “anti- labour laws” and had threatened to hold huge demonstration at the venue “to mount pressure on the central government to resolve labour issues”.