The RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has decided to launch protests against the labor policies of the Union and state governments in all districts across the country on Wednesday (February 25, 2026). The BMS is demanding that the Center urgently convene an Indian Labor Conference – involving the government, employers and workers – to discuss workers’ issues and the implementation of the four labor codes.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Monday (February 23, 2026), BMS officials Pawan Kumar and Ravindra Himte said the Union government has assured BMS that it will make changes to the Industrial Relations Code and the Occupational Safety, Health and Conditions Code in the second round of the budget session, which begins on March 9. the government has assured that our concerns will be addressed,” Mr. Kumar said.
Mr. Kumar said the protest was against the government’s neglect of workers’ affairs. “Take the case of Heavy Engineering Corporation in Ranchi. There are about 3,500 workers in HEC and they have not been paid for the last 32 months. The Prime Minister is saying that our original Brahmos missile will be exported to different countries. But what about the workers in HEC who make the Brahmos components,” he asked.
Mr. Kumar also highlighted the case of mid-day meal workers and said that workers who prepare nutritious meals for students are malnourished due to the low wages they receive. “Lakhs of mid-day meal workers and ASHA workers continue to receive meager honorarium. Even after five decades of service, Anganwadi workers are still treated as mere scheme workers despite being forced to work for more than 10 hours a day with an ever-increasing workload. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has been reluctant to increase the honorarium while continuously allocating BMS heads.
Regarding the cotton industry, Mr. Kumar said that the country has plenty of inputs but the government is not opening National Textile Corporation plants in eight states. “The government has now allowed import of cotton with zero duty, but why is there a delay in opening these factories? The workers in these factories have been getting only 50% wages since the pandemic, with salaries pending for the last 10 months,” Kumar said.
The BMS also demanded that the Center withdraw the Draft (Amendment) Electricity Act. “Electricity workers across the country are fighting tirelessly to keep distribution companies in the government sector only and not to sell them to private players,” he said.
Other demands of BMS include strict and universal implementation of labor laws across all sectors and categories of workers, increase in minimum pension under Provident Fund pension from ₹1,000 to ₹7,500 per month, increase in threshold limits for coverage under State Employees Insurance and PF to ₹42,000 and ₹30,000 respectively, increase in bonus below ₹30,000 and ₹30,000 respectively. 1965, in accordance with the present level of wages, regularization of scheme workers and contract workers and abolition of ban on general recruitment and guaranteed employment with job security.
Published – 23 Feb 2026 22:43 IST
