Trade Unions Launch Statewide Protest Against Labour Codes

Kochi: Trade unions and farmers’ organizations have launched a long protest against what they call the Modi government’s anti-worker and anti-farmer policies. Demonstrations and sit-in protests were held in various parts of the state.

At a protest meeting organized in front of the BSNL office in Ernakulam under the leadership of the Joint Trade Union, CITU national secretary K. Chandran Pillai inaugurated the protest demanding the withdrawal of the anti-worker labour codes. Copies of the labor code were burned as part of the protest.

A protest meeting was held in front of the Ernakulam BSNL office, where CITU Secretary K. Chnadran Pillai led the burning of the labour codes copies. Following the victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, the Central government’s unilateral enforcement of the four labour codes, which strip away workers’ rights, is expected to further intensify the nationwide protests.

Farmers' organizations, with the support of trade unions, had already announced a nationwide protest for Wednesday, marking the fifth anniversary of the historic farmers’ movement against the agricultural laws. The current agitation is an extension of that plan.

The farmers’ organizations and trade unions had put forward several demands, including ensuring MSP through law, honoring the assurances given by the government during the resolution of the farmers' protest, withdrawing the labour codes, rolling back the electricity amendment bill, and scrapping the seed bill. But the government, disregarding the demands of workers and farmers, unilaterally implemented the labour codes. The government’s move, seen as prioritizing corporate interests, has provoked strong anger among workers and farmers across the country.

Trade unions and farmers’ organizations will jointly plan future protest programs. They also intend to highlight the central government’s encroachment on the powers of the states, which affects workers and farmers. The GST revisions, the electricity bill amendment, the national cooperative policy, and the new education policy are being cited as examples. Along with reversing the anti-worker and anti-farmer policies, trade unions and farmers’ organizations emphasize the need to protect federal principles.