Nirmala Sitharaman Chairs Pre-Budget Talks With Trade Unions, And Energy, Infra And Urban Development Sectors

Equal employment rights for gig workers, ease in taxation, slum redevelopment, and urban infrastructure were among the key focuses on Monday as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman wrapped up pre-Budget consultations with trade unions as well as representatives from infrastructure, energy, and urban development sectors.

The first meeting of the day was with trade unions, with representation from the Trade Union Co-ordination Centre and Bharat Mazdoor Sangh, among others.

Key demands included:

• Minimum EPFO pension 5 times to Rs 5,000 per month

• Immediate constitution of the 8th Pay Commission

• Scrap the new pension scheme, unified pension scheme, and implement the old pension scheme.

• An additional 2% tax on the super-rich to guarantee social security for all informal workers

• Exemption in income tax limit enhanced to 10 lakh annually

• Immediately implement code on wages and code on social securities.

• Recognises gig workers as workers and provides minimum wage.

• 1.2 crore domestic workers be given worker status and social security

For the second meet of the day, the energy, infrastructure, and urban development sectors were represented by key leaders such as Niranjan Hiranandani, MD, Hiranandani Group; BVN Rao, business chairman, GMR Group; S. Paramasivan, MD, Afcons; and Sumant Sinha, chairman, ReNew Group, among others.

Post meeting, Hiranandani, talking to reporters, said the meeting had discussions around slum redevelopment, last mile connectivity, women's and pedestrian safety, among others.

"We discussed how we need to focus on rental housing, not just ownership. The industrial workers rental housing scheme, announced in the last budget, needs to be implemented in other sectors. Slum-free India is also in focus. We've already worked out a scheme to eliminate slums in Mumbai, something in the works and presented to Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis. We also discussed whether housing could be given infrastructure status," he said.

He added that representation was put forth on creating additional incentives to make energy transition in mobility. Apart from that, schemes around women's employment and loopholes around the capital gains tax on property sales tax were also put forward.