BMS meeting on 27-28 November for demands: Minimum pension, variable DA, EPF cap hike to ₹ 30,000, gig workers on the agenda

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) national leaders plan to meet on November 27 and 28 in Vadodara to discuss pending workers’ demands, including issues related to concert workers, PTI reported. They will also decide on the future course of action, he added.

Branch of the RSS, among the union’s demands is an increase in the minimum pension to ₹7,500, which increases the ceiling of state employee insurance from ₹21,000 up to ₹42,000 and the ceiling of the employee pension fund from ₹₹15,000 to ₹30,000). ₹30,000.

In September, the Union Cabinet approved an increase in the wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage from ₹15,000 up to ₹25,000 per month with effect from 17th September. Union Minister for Labor and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said that with the revised cap, more employees will be eligible for compulsory coverage, thereby expanding the reach of formal social security.

The salary cap has not changed since September 2014, despite significant increases in wages, minimum wages and the cost of living.

“Expect the government to fulfill the pending demands as soon as possible”

Speaking to PTI, BMS National Vice President Pawan Kumar said the union expected the government to fulfill its pending demands as soon as possible and thanked it for increasing the wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage. “We have thanked the government for the EPF issue. We expect the government to fulfill our other demands as soon as possible,” Kumar said.

He added that issues related to concert workers, including the provision of shelter and insurance, will also be discussed at the upcoming meeting. “We will decide on our future course of action at the November 27-28 meeting in Vadodara. Issues related to concert workers, including shelters and insurance, will also be discussed,” he said.

BMS staged statewide protests on August 17 to push the Center to address workers’ long-standing issues, including demands for higher pensions, higher wage ceilings and benefits for workers in the system.