Rahul: Pandemic fight can’t be excuse to exploit workers

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 11

The Congress today came down heavily on the government for ongoing amendments to the labour and other laws saying there could be no compromises on the fundamental rights of the workers.

“Several state governments have been amending labour laws. We are collectively fighting against Covid, but this fight cannot be an excuse to trample upon fundamental rights, push unsafe workplaces and exploit or muzzle workers”. — Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader

In a tweet today, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, “Several state governments have been amending labour laws. We are collectively fighting against Covid, but this fight cannot be an excuse to trample upon fundamental rights, push unsafe workplaces and exploit or muzzle workers. There cannot be any compromise on the fundamental principles.”

Earlier today former minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also warned against Centre’s moves to dilute a range of protective laws in sectors of labour and environment and said such attempts were quack remedies like demonetisation was.

“In the name of economic revival and stimulus, it will be dangerous and disastrous to loosen labour, land and environmental laws and regulations as the Modi Government is planning. The first steps have already been taken. This is a quack remedy like demonetisation,” Ramesh said.

Later today the Congress officially demanded that the Prime Minister should deny permission for amendments of labour laws to state governments.

Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohi said, “If the PM has any concern for workers, he should tell the state governments not to press with labour law amendments or allow them to do so. We expect the PM to intervene today itself.”

Gohil said it was painful to see that while the country was fighting the pandemic, the government had taken the occasion to dilute rights of the people.

Unions mull filing plaint with ILO

Ten Central trade unions are contemplating lodging a joint complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) against changes in labour laws by state governments to give relaxation to establishments/employers undertaken with the tacit support of the Centre. The unions are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.