New labour codes grant capitalists freedom to exploit workers: CITU

The Himachal Pradesh state committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) convened a meeting here on Sunday, sharply criticising the Centre for allegedly exploiting workers under the pretext of promoting ease of doing business.

The meeting was presided over by state president Vijender Mehra and attended by representatives from Anganwadi, mid-day meal, construction, MGNREGA, STP, ambulance services, hydel projects, road project, and outsourced employees’ unions, along with 45 committee members.

Addressing the gathering, CITU national secretary Kashmir Singh Thakur said the Central Government issued a notification on November 21 to implement four labour codes that replaced 28 labour laws enacted before and after Independence.

He alleged that these new codes stripped workers of long-standing rights, and granted large corporations and capitalists “unprecedented freedom to exploit labour”.

Thakur claimed that the labour codes made it easier for companies to terminate employees and virtually eliminate the role of labour courts, as departmental officials would now act only as facilitators, not inspectors.

He added that requirements such as 51 per cent membership for union registration and broader powers to cancel unions would weaken worker organisations, allowing companies to hire and fire at will.

Participants of the meeting expressed concern over the Central Government’s “aggressive” push toward privatisation, saying sectors such as airline, coal mining, and various public enterprises were being handed over to private corporations.

It was also alleged that natural resources — land, including forests, and water — were increasingly being allotted to big industrial houses. The union announced a state-level agitation against the labour codes. District-level protests in this regard will be held on December 19. The Anganwari Workers’ Union will demonstrate across districts and project offices on December 10 to demand the release of gratuity, as directed by the Supreme Court. The committee also planned to intensify its efforts over the release of pending financial assistance for MGNREGA and construction workers, which has been withheld for four years despite commitments from the board concerned to disburse 50 per cent of benefits by December 31.

A “dera dalo, ghera dalo” protest will be launched at the Board office in Hamirpur at the end of January.

Beginning January 15, MGNREGA workers will undertake a campaign at block levels demanding 200 days of guaranteed employment and a daily wage of Rs 500, while submitting collective applications for work.

Ambulance workers will go on a two-day strike in the last week of December, with final dates to be announced soon. The meeting also demanded a clear policy to regularise outsourced employees and urged the state government to replace the ‘Seva Mitra’ hiring system with permanent appointments.

The CITU demanded that 70 per cent of jobs in national highway and other construction projects be reserved for local workers.