TUs to observe protest day on Aug 20

Unhappy over several decisions of the government, major trade unions and independent federations will observe a nationwide protest day tomorrow to press for their demands including hike in EPF interest rate, pension for the informal sector and rollback of the proposed FDI hike in three sectors.

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"The protest day would be observed across the country, especially in the various industrial centres, with dharnas and demonstrations by trade unions and federations of various organisations," CPI-affiliated

AITUC secretary D L Sachdev said on Thursday.

All the central trade unions, excluding Congress-backed INTUC and Sangh-affiliated BMS, would take part in a protest march to the Parliament.

Sachdev said similar demonstrations would take place in other centres, particularly in the coal, bank and insurance industries.

On the reduction in EPF rates, Sachdev said: "They (United Progressive Alliance government) have their own compulsions. We want the government to stay, but at the same time we would continue to press for our demands."

Union sources said despite protests, the government has neither made its stand clear on the proposed hike in FDI in civil aviation, insurance and telecom sectors, nor announced a rollback on de-reservation in the small scale industries.