The statement stated the central trade unions have been all along demanding the removal of ceilings of entitlement and amount of money payable as annual bonus for industrial workers, but the government has remained totally silent on the two vital issues affecting the entire working class in India.

The ceiling on entitlement has become totally irrelevant as the wage level has increased because of the rise in DA following constant rise in prices. Even the unskilled workers have also now become entitled to annual bonus. The ceiling on amount payable is also unrealistic and does no justice to workers. The amount notified by government falls far below of even 8.33% of the wage, which the employer was statutorily obliged to pay to each worker since 1972. The proposed bonus amount now falls even below 3% of annual wage of the skilled, highly skilled and supervisory workers.

The workers have become restless on the issue of ceiling on bonus entitlement. The festival season only weeks away and bonus payment has to start from September onwards. We, accordingly, demand that government must revise the ceilings upward through a Presidential Ordinance so that the workers are not deprived of their rightful amount of Annual Bonus. If necessary, clearance from Election Commission should be obtained immediately to enact the ordinance.