New labour laws will enslave weaker sections, says CITU

Hamirpur, July 18

The national secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Kashmir Singh Thakur, today said that the four new labour codes would ensure slavery of the labour class in the country and give more teeth to the corporate sector. He was addressing a protest rally organised by the CITU here.

He alleged that in the 100-day agenda prepared by the Modi government, four anti-labour laws would be implemented by the government in a conspiracy against poor people of the country. He said that over 74 per cent labour and 70 per cent industries would be out of the purview of the labour laws.

Thakur said the new laws would enable law-enforcing agencies to act against the labour class. He said these laws entailed strict penalties and punishments like the Motor Vehicle Act. He said the Fixed Term Employment notification had already been notified, which would deprive the labour class of regular employment in the country. He said the duration of the work time had also been increased from eight to 12 hours.

Kashmir Singh Thakur said the major demands of CITU included the removal of National Monetisation Pipeline, setting Rs 26,000 per month as the minimum wage for labourers, social security for unorganised sector, increase in MG-NREGA budget, registration in Labour Welfare Boards and accreditation to anganwadi, mid-day meal and Asha workers as labourers and the provision of minimum wages and pension for them.

He said the government should withdraw the smart meter scheme, review punishment provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, check inflation rate in the country, reduce price of LPG, petrol and diesel. He said the government should also withdraw Agniveer and other fixed-term employment programmes. Later, leaders of the CITU submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner here.