Finding that the draft common minimum programme was "inadequate", the central trade unions on Monday said it was not "acceptable" to them and laid out over a dozen demands to the new government headed by Prime Minster Manmohan Singh.
"CMP is inadequate and not acceptable to us," All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta told PTI after its national convention held today to congratulate the working class for defeating the National Democratic Alliance government.
He said the trade unions would be finalising the workers' charter by Tuesday and meet the prime minister and Labour Minister Sis Ram Ola.
Elaborating on the workers' charter, Dasgupta said it included restoration of provident fund interest at 9.5 per cent, amendments to bonus and Payment of Wages Act, winding up of the divestment ministry, labour law reforms and steps to be taken in view of the Supreme Court's observation on the right to strike.
Today's meeting, attended by CITU, AICCTU, HMS, TUCC, UTUC and UTUC (LS), also endorsed the view that there should be higher interest rates for small savings.
Besides, he asked for special packages for tea, textiles and jute industry workers and a comprehensive law for agriculture workers in the country.
Asking the labour ministry to work more efficiently, he said the PF Act should be strengthened to make it stringent for preventing frauds.