Anti-labour policies of Modi govt prompted strike: Cong

New Delhi, Sept 2 (PTI) Accusing the Modi government ofbringing anti-labour policies like ‘hire and fire’, Congresssaid that this had prompted all major trade unions, barringBMS to give a call for a nationwide strike today. The party’s senior spokesman Ajay Maken told reportershere that the government is taking one step after anotherwhich is anti-labour and anti-poor in the guise of ushring inlabour reforms. Extending support to the nationwide strike and the charterof demands of the major trade unions, he said that in a moveto help crony capitalists, the government is swiftly changinglaws on contract workers to facilitate ‘hire and fire’ policywithout paying any compensation. He said while the unions had demanded a minimum wage ofRs 18,000, the government has agreed to give just Rs 9,100. The party lamented that the time limit for apprenticeshiphas been made unlimited from one year. "This means that ayouth can be made to work for less pay for years together." He alleged that the government is "hurting" the labourmovement by increasing the membership requirement forrecognising a trade union from 15 per cent to 30 per cent. Normal life in various parts of the country was partlyaffected today by the strike with banking, transport andcoal mining being among the most impacted, while hundreds ofworkers were detained in Haryana, Jharkhand and West Bengal.PTI SPGSC