NEWโข DELHI, Sept 29 – IndiaS major tradeโข unions have strongly condemned the recently enacted โฃlabour codes, announcing โฃplans for aโ nationwide protest on September 28 to demand their repeal.โค The unions allege theโข codes โขundermine worker rights, reduce wages, and weaken โjob โsecurity, signaling a potential escalation of industrial unrest.
The Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), and Hindโข Mazdoor Sabha โข(HMS) -โ representing millions of workersโค across sectors – are spearheading the opposition. They argue the codesโ consolidate 44โค labour laws into four, โsimplifying regulations for businesses but at the expense of employee protections. this comesโ as India prepares for potential economic โคheadwinds and a crucial election year, raising concerns about โsocial โฃstability and the impactโ on the workforce.
The unions’ primary grievances center on provisions within the Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety, Health and โฃWorking Conditions, and โขWage Codes. They claim โthe new rules make it โฃeasier for companies to hire and fire employees, limit collective bargaining โคpower,โฃ and dilute existing social security benefits.โ “these codes are designed to favour employers and exploit workers,” said Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of AITUC, in a statement. โ”They dismantle decades of hard-won rightsโค and leave workers โคvulnerable.”
Specifically,unions object to the increased threshold for requiring prior goverment permission for layoffs in larger โขestablishments,arguing itโข will facilitate mass retrenchments. They also criticize the fixed-term employment provisions, claiming they create a precarious workforce with limited โขaccess to benefits. The Wage Code’s provisions on definingโ ‘wages’ areโฃ also contested, with unions fearing โit will lower โtake-home pay for many workers.
The government defends the labour codes โas essential reforms to modernize India’s labourโ market, attract investment, and boost โeconomic growth. โขLabour Minister Bhupender Yadav has repeatedlyโค stated the codes aim to provide a “flexible and โคconducive” environment forโค businesses while ensuring basic worker rights.However,unions remain unconvinced,pointingโค to a lack of meaningful consultation during the legislative process.
The September 28 protest is expected to involve demonstrations, strikes, โand roadblocks across the country. Union leaders have warned of further industrial action if the government fails to address โฃtheir concerns. โฃThe outcome of this dispute could considerably impact India’s industrial โขrelations landscape and the future of its workforce. Manoj Kumar, a Senior Economics Correspondent forโ Reuters, reported that the protests come as India navigates a complex economic environment andโข prepares forโ nationalโ elections, adding anotherโค layer โคof complexity to the situation.
