BMS slams Budget 2026 calls it ‘worker-deficient’

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) while appreciating the Union Budget proposals relating to container manufacturing, mega textile parks, sports good manufacturing, new freight and high speed rail corridors and inland waterway, criticised it for failing to address the livelihood and social security concerns of the working class.

Reacting to the Union Budget 2026, BMS national vice president M. Jagadiswara Rao noted that while the emphasis on labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, fisheries, MSMEs, tourism, healthcare, AYUSH, animal husbandry and the creative (AVGC) sector, along with initiatives like Samarth 2.0 and MSME liquidity and equity support may generate employment, without adequate wages and social security protection, it cannot be termed as inclusive development.

Referring to the proposed notification of Labour Codes and formation of high-level committees on banking sector reforms, the BMS leader noted that reforms without adequate worker safeguards will only deepen insecurity and informalisation. The complete absence of any enhancement in honorarium for Scheme Workers such as Anganwadi, ASHA and Mid-Day meal workers is deeply disappointing. The long-standing demand to recognise them as workers and ensure minimum wages and comprehensive social security has once again been ignored, indicating a serious disregard for women workers at the grassroot-level.

The lack of an announcement on the eligibility criteria as well as minimum pension under EPS-95 is another big disappointment. This continued neglect of retired workers surviving on meagre pensions is ‘unacceptable’. BMS reiterates its uncompromising demand for substantial pension enhancement and provision of medical benefits.

The non-increase in the wage ceiling for EPF and ESI is a matter of serious concern. This will result in a large number of workers being pushed out of the coverage of these vital social security schemes, thereby defeating the very objective of universal social protection.

The absence of a dedicated and adequate Social Security Fund for nearly 90% of the workforce—including gig and platform workers—in the unorganised sector is a glaring failure of this Budget. BMS strongly cautions that increasing privatisation, contractualisation and outsourcing, without statutory job security and labour protections, will aggravate unemployment, wage suppression and exploitation.

The Budget is conspicuously silent on the formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission and meaningful reforms in NPS, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among government employees.

The BMS described the Union Budget 2026–27 as ‘growth-centric’ but ‘worker-deficient’. Mr. Jagadiswara said that the BMS will intensify its struggle and continue to exert pressure on the Government to ensure that economic growth translates into dignified employment, fair wages and comprehensive social security for every worker in the country.