Workers Rally in Pune Over Contract Labour, ESI and Pension Issues
Pune, 25th February 2026: The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Pune district unit, staged a symbolic “Sarkar Jagao Andolan” protest outside the District Collector’s office on Tuesday, opposing what it termed anti-labour policies of the Central government. The demonstration was organised to draw the administration’s attention to long-pending and pressing issues faced by workers across sectors.
Addressing the gathering, Ravindra Himte, former National General Secretary of BMS, alleged that contract and other workers across the state and country continue to face injustice. He claimed that several provisions in the new labour codes are unfair and that issues such as illegal wage deductions, job insecurity, lack of social security, and pending concerns related to Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and pensions remain unresolved. Despite repeated assurances, the government has failed to implement workers’ demands effectively, he alleged.
Key demands raised during the protest included immediate extension of social security benefits to workers in the unorganised sector, implementation of a contractor-free employment policy, and assurance of job security for both permanent and contract workers. The union also demanded implementation of “equal pay for equal work,” strict action against illegal wage deductions of contract workers, and enforcement of the Maharashtra government resolution for all workers engaged in the Pune Metro project with arrears.
Among other demands, the BMS sought enhancement of the wage ceiling under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme to Rs 42,000 per month, along with expansion of hospitals, dispensaries and medical stores. It also demanded an increase in the minimum pension under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to Rs 5,000 per month along with dearness allowance. The organisation called for allocation of at least 3 per cent of the total Union and State budgets for the welfare of unorganised sector workers.
Workers from various sectors participated in large numbers, including those from industrial establishments, defence services, the electricity sector, outsourced staff, Pune Metro project workers, social sector employees, railway staff, anganwadi workers and helpers, agricultural labourers, beedi workers, retired employees, technicians, and contractual and statutory employees from universities and charitable institutions.
BMS leaders stated that the decision to hold demonstrations at district collector offices across the country on February 25 was announced at the organisation’s convention in Jagannath Puri. Accordingly, protests were held in Pune as well as other districts nationwide.
Among those present at the protest were Ravindra Himte (former National General Secretary), Sachin Mengale (General Secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Theka Mazdoor Mahasangh), Balasaheb Bhujbal (Organisation Secretary), Dnyaneshwar Jadhav, Shilpa Deshpande, Ashwini Dev and other office-bearers.
Nilesh Kharat, President of the Maharashtra State Electricity Contract Workers Union, and Sachin Mengale warned that the agitation would continue until the issues of contract workers across the country are resolved. District Secretary Sagar Pawar and several other leaders, including Rajesh Mule, Balasaheb Patil, Vijay Patil, Sanjay Kamble, Suresh Jadhav, Anil Pardhi, Vivek Thakar, Nikhil Tekawade, Kedar Kadam, Rahul Bodke, Yash Nimbalkar and Baby Rani De, also addressed the gathering and thanked workers for their participation.
The union submitted a memorandum outlining its demands to the Prime Minister and the Union Labour Minister through the Pune District Collector’s office. Resident Deputy Collector Jyoti Kadam accepted the memorandum and assured that it would be forwarded for further action.
BMS leaders warned that if the legitimate demands of workers are not accepted at the earliest, a more intense agitation will be launched in the coming days.
