There is no social security proposed for the agricultural labour and also there is no law proposed for the unorganised sector.

While the Budget speaks of employment potential in the textile and IT sectors going up by 1.2 crore and 70 lakh in the next five years, one wonders how these jobs will be created. Also, on contact-labour outsourcing, there is no mention of regulations that will protect the interests of the workers and the present rules are skewed in favour of the employers.

There is also no mention of the appointment of the Sixth Pay Commission, which is of paramount importance to the central government employees.

Although, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had recently hiked the Provident Fund interest rate, it has not been mentioned in the Budget. Also, the Budget isn’t clear on what kinds of pension schemes will be implemented.

BMS had sought the threshold tax exemption level to be increased to Rs 2 lakh. We, therefore, find the proposals on this front lacking. We totally oppose and shall seek the removal of taxes on all kinds of perks.

The writer is national president of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)