Would urge Mamata to let Trinamool Congress join trade union strike: Reddy

Reddy also confirmed that the RSS-backed labour union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) had lent its support to the strike. “Their representatives have signed the minutes of the last meeting, but you never know. There can be last minute changes too,” he said.

Sources said the central trade unions would hold a satyagraha movement across all states on August 9.

Elaborating on the 12-point charter of demands by the trade unions, he said, “Our demands include increase of minimum wage to Rs 18,000, halting the privatisation of public sectors, ensured pension of 50 per cent of the wages and stopping of victimisation of labour in the name of amendment in labour laws.”

“The Centre claims that the GDP of the country is better than that of China among other countries. If so, then the benefit should go to the poor. Then why is the minimum wage in India one of the lowest?” he asked.

Referring to the Centre’s FDA policy, the INTUC chairman said the Modi government was doing exactly what the British did in the pre-Independence era.

“The multi-national companies would come here, produce their goods at a low price owing to availability of cheap labour in these regions and then sell those at a very high price. It’s just like the British rule period,” he said.

Reddy further said that India should come out of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to protect the domestic sector. “Being in the WTO has created new problems. India must come out to protect its domestic industry and market,” he said.

He also proposed the revival of the ailing jute industry in Bengal. “The central government could either take over the jute industry or work together with the state government for its revival,” the trade union chief said.