Trade unions, from the RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) to the Left-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), have flayed the Budget for not addressing unemployment and massive job losses due to demonetisation.

“There was huge revenue collection through demonetisation but same has not been transferred in social expenditure. Migration caused due to demonetisation is not addressed,” BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said in a statement. He called upon all BMS affiliates to hold demonstrations demanding a relook at the proposals.

CITU general secretary Tapan Sen said “no concrete measures are seen in the Budget proposals for boosting quality employment across the sectors”.

In a statement, Sen said the Finance Minister admitted the gloomy situation in private investment in the domestic economy, but did not bother to take concrete measures to remove such gloom by way of increasing public investment and directly intervening to improve purchasing power of the people by at least hiking the minimum wage level to at least Rs 18,000/month, as accepted by the Centre in the 7th Central Pay Commission.

Upadhyay added that while the budgetary allocation to MGNREGA had been increased, it was “not in tune with unemployment caused because of demonetisation and migration from urban areas to villages.”

The unorganised sector, scheme workers and other labour-related concerns, such as enhancement of their honorarium and coverage of social security net have also been “totally overlooked,” he added.

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