Summary:
The top demand by trade unions for inclusion in the election manifesto is an increase in the number of days of MNREGA work and the need to extend it to urban areas too. The unions have also demanded separate welfare board for different workers like agricultural, home-based etc and universalisation of ESI and PF schemes to cover all workers. He said the unions would meet various parties to press for their demands. "But these changes are taking away the security from the labourers and leaving them at the mercy of their employers," said Gajera. Mahesh Gajera, of the Ajivika Bureau, said that to ensure ease of doing business, the government was bringing in several changes to labour laws..