Trade unions want new budget to create more jobs

New Delhi, Nov 20: The Union Budget for fiscal 2017-18 should create more jobs and employment opportunities, trade unions said in a representation to Union Fince Minister Arun Jaitley. “The budget should help in creating more jobs and employment opportunities. The minimum wages should be increased to Rs 18,000 per month, and same wages for same work even for contract labour,” said the Fince Ministry in a statement here on Saturday. In a joint memorandum, the unions urged the minister to raise the minimum persol tax exemption to Rs 5 lakh and increase pension for all workers to Rs 3,000 from Rs 1,000 per month. “The budget should focus on social security schemes for the workers, especially those working in the unorganised sector,” the statement said.

“Ensuring the benefits of the social security schemes to every section of workers, including those in the unorganised sector, is a major priority of the government,” said Jaitley on the occasion.

Admitting that making the schemes accessible to the workers in the unorganised sector was a major challenge, he said the government was keen to address the issue as the sector was growing at a faster pace. Noting that the social security framework was structured for different groups spanning organised, unorganised and unemployed or below poverty line, Jaitley said there was a need to ensure a convergence of benefits for all the groups. (IANS)