CITU protests delay in union registrations, demands action

The Himachal Pradesh State Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) staged a protest outside the Labour Commissioner’s office today, demanding the immediate completion of the pending union registrations.

Addressing the gathering, CITU state president Vijender Mehra accused the Labour Department of siding with capitalists, industrialists and factory owners while neglecting workers’ rights. He alleged that officials were taking commissions from companies and deliberately delaying union registrations. “It is shocking that the registration process for the Vishal Megamart Union, which began in 2014, is still not complete,” he said.

Mehra further highlighted that the registration of the GMP Union in Baddi had been pending for three years, while the MGNREGA Union had been waiting for four years. Additionally, two unions from the Luminous Plant in Gagret had faced similar delays for several years. Other unions, including JP Union, Australia Union, Mid-Day Meal Union and SBI Union, had also been struggling with prolonged registration processes.

He alleged that the delay in registrations was a deliberate attempt to weaken workers’ rights, adding that union leaders faced harassment and illegal termination due to the lack of official recognition.