Centre's New Labour Codes Will Push Workers Back to Colonial-Era Conditions: Elamaram Kareem

Kozhikode: The central government is dismantling 29 historic labour laws and replacing them with labour codes that will push Indian workers into conditions akin to those under British colonial rule, alleged CITU state general secretary Elamaram Kareem.

Speaking at a press conference, Kareem said the Modi government maintains the stance that it need not consult trade unions on matters that directly affect workers. Once the labour codes are implemented, he warned, workers will lose all existing protections, and those in the unorganised sector will face severe setbacks in their struggle for rights.

He stated that the new codes would weaken workers’ collective bargaining power, will make it difficult to form trade unions, undermine job security and workplace safety, and will curtail workers’ rights across sectors.

Kareem also criticised the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), saying its recent statement on the implementation of the codes was insulting to workers’ organisations.

Pointing out that labour is a subject on the Concurrent List, he said the Centre had pressured state governments to adopt the labour codes even before formal rules were in place. Several states, including those governed by the Congress, have passed laws supporting the codes.

However, Kareem reiterated that Kerala will not implement any law that is anti-worker, and predicted rising protests across all labour sectors against what he termed the BJP-led central government's anti-worker policies.