NEW DELHI: Differences between government and trade unions over labour reforms proposals persisted today with unions threatening to go ahead with their nation-wide strike on September 2 in support of their demands after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to make any head way.
The assertion by the unions came on the eve of the 46th Indian Labour Conference to be addressed by Modi tomorrow where government, trade unions and industry would come face to face to discuss various issues including government's labour reforms.
The Prime Minister, during a tea meeting with the central trade union leaders, heard their views on various economic policies and labour related laws but gave no assurance to them on issues raised by unions.
"The Prime Minister heard the views of the trade union leaders on various issues of interest to workers, including in areas related to economic policy, and related laws," an official statement said. Emerging out of the meeting, trade union leaders said that Prime Minister had not given any assurance and hence they would go ahead with their September 2 nation-wide strike in support of their 12-point charter of demands.
Earlier, the union leaders held extensive discussions on labour issues with the inter-ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The first meeting of the high-powered witnessed divergent views on contentious issues of contract labour and minimum wages, though there were unanimity over providing more benefits and social security cover to workers
The other points of convergence relate to issues like recognition of trade unions and amendment to the Bonus Act. From the government side, the meeting was attended by Jaitley, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh.