Trade unions on Tuesday gave call for day-long nationwide protest on Friday against Finance Ministry’s decision to fix 8.7 per cent interest rate for provident fund subscribers, lower than 8.8 per cent decided by the EPFO.
“While condemning such arrogant anti-worker approach of the government, the central trade unions call upon the workers and the trade unions irrespective of affiliations to protest against the same by holding demonstrations, meeting, etc on April 29, 2016, throughout the country,” ten central trade unions said in a joint statement on Tuesday. The unions include Indian National Trade Union Congress, All India Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions and All India United Trade Union Centre.
However, RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has opted out of the proposed stir. When contacted, BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadyay said, “BMS will hold a nationwide protest tomorrow.” The unions strongly denounce the ‘unilateral reduction’ in interest rate on EPF from 8.8 per cent to 8.7 percent, ignoring the unanimous decision of tripartite Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of EPFO, the statement added.