Representatives of trade unions, who met the finance minister on Wednesday, have demanded the revival of sick units instead of selling government equity stake in those companies.
The Centre of Indian Trade unions and the All India Trade Union Congress said privatisation and disinvestment of state-owned firms would affect the interest of the workers.
The views of the trade unions, representing mostly the organised labour force, run contrary to the demands of India Inc, which called for disinvestment of public sector enterprises to fund the widening fiscal deficit.
They also suggested increasing corporate tax rate so that more money can be transferred from the rich to the poor.
AITUC suggested an investment of Rs 100,000 crore (Rs 1 trillion) in social infrastructure, which will create jobs and assist workers across industries.