The Left parties on Tuesday lashed out at the UPA government equating it with the previous NDA regime for reducing the EPF interest rate and demanded reconsideration of the decision.
Describing the decision to reduce the interest rate as 'unacceptable,' the Politburo said it was 'unfortunate that the UPA government continues with the patently anti-worker policies of the previous NDA regime.'
A day after EPF organisation reduced the rate from 9.5 per cent to 8.5 per cent, the CPI(M) politburo asked the government 'to reconsider this decision and see that there is
no reduction in the PF interest rate.'
The CPI central secretariat wanted the government to initiate a dialogue with the trade unions to arrive at an amicable solution.
The RSP said it would 'not compromise with any government at the Centre at the cost of the workers and the poor people,' while Forward Bloc described the decision as 'deplorable, disappointing and unfortunate.'
In a statement, the CPI(M) politburo said it was 'regrettable that departing from earlier tradition of the Central Board of Trustees to take decisions only by way of consensus, this time a decision has been taken on the basis of a majority bypassing the protests of representatives of the central trade unions.'
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