8th pay commission among matters that unions discussed with FM

Top trade union leaders met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday for consultations ahead of the upcoming annual budget and urged her to push rural development, infrastructure and exports, set up the 8th Pay Commission and reconvene the Indian Labour Conference.

At least two labour union leaders at the meeting said it discussed the issue of reconvening the Indian Labour Conference, an apex tripartite consultative committee in the labour ministry that advises the government on matters concerning the working class.

"We asked the finance minister to hold the Indian Labour Conference again, for the first time since 2015. This would be the proper forum to address labour issues," said Harbhajan Singh Siddhu, general secretary of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha

"In the conference, we will take up our issues with the new labour laws which have threatened worker safety," he added.

The latest stakeholder meeting conducted by Sitharaman saw the minister, top finance ministry officials and eminent trade union leaders discuss ideas and suggestions that could push the growth momentum and improve the conditions of the country's labour force amid an increasing government focus on manufacturing as a growth vehicle.

"We proposed that the focus of the budget should be on major issues like rural development, infrastructure, exports, and skill development," said B. Surendran, all India organizing secretary of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, who was present at the meeting.

"We also asked the finance minister to constitute the 8th pay commission immediately and to convene the Indian Labour Conference again," he added.