Skill development ​is a top priority of the Government to boost employment, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the representatives of trade unions ​who met him ​here on Friday.

As part of the pre-Budget consultations, Jaitley assured the trade union leaders of giving due consideration to their joint charter of demands in his Budget proposals.

Trade unions cutting across party lines, including the ruling BJP, have sought massive investment in infrastructure to stimulate the economy for job creation, led by public sector undertakings, withdrawal of the new pension scheme (NPS), linking minimum wages to the consumer price index, curbs on foreign direct investment in crucial sectors such as defence production, telecommunications, railways, financial sector, retail trade, education, health and media, among others.

“The public sector played a crucial role during the year of severe contraction of private capital investment immediately following the outbreak of global financial crisis. PSUs should be strengthened and expanded and disinvestment of shares of profit-making ​ones should be stopped forthwith,” said the charter of demands.

The leaders also urged the Government to regularise the huge workforce engaged in welfare schemes, such as ICDS, Mid-Day Meal, Vidya volunteers, Siksha Mitra, among others.

Since successive Governments have cited resource constraints, the trade unions welcome​d the SIT on unearthing black money and suggested various other measures such as taxing the rich and bringing the corporate service sector, traders, wholesale business, private hospitals and under a broader tax net, as well as higher taxes on luxury goods.

Apart from Government re​​presentatives, the trade unions who met Jaitley include BN Rai of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Chandra Prakash Singh of Indian National Trade Union Congress, Amarjeet Kaur of All India Trade Union Congress, and Sharad Rao of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Swadesh Devroye of Centre of Indian Trade Unions.

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