Protest against new labour codes in Ludhiana

On the nationwide call of the joint forum of central trade unions, the United Front of Trade Unions, Ludhiana, on Wednesday staged a protest against labour codes. Copies of the notification unilaterally implementing the “anti-labour” codes were burnt and a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner.

The memorandum said the notification issued on November 21 was an attack on the nature of the welfare state by ignoring the democratic process. Ten central trade unions have continuously opposed the codes and have demanded the convening of an Indian Labor Conference, which had not taken place since 2015.

The trade unions alleged that the government has implemented the codes by ignoring the workers, their strikes and demonstrations. The codes were termed as a serious attack on the lives, rights and employment security of the workers.

The central trade unions warned that the notification was a ‘declaration of war’ on the working class at a time of deep unemployment and recession. They demanded immediate repeal of the labour codes and restoration of the old labour laws.

The speakers said the continuous struggle against the decision would be continued and intensified. Along with the working class of the country, the trade unions of Ludhiana would also join the continuous struggle.