BEFI Slams New Labour Codes, Alleges Attack on Workers’ Rights

Kolkata: Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) has strongly criticised the Central Government’s decision to notify the final Industrial Relations Rules, 2026 under the new Labour Codes, alleging that the reforms weaken workers’ rights and favour corporate interests.

In a statement issued after the government released the rules through a Gazette notification on May 8, the organisation said trade unions and workers across the country had consistently opposed the Labour Codes through protests, strikes and demonstrations. BEFI claimed the four Labour Codes replaced 29 existing labour laws that workers had secured through decades of struggle.

The federation pointed to ongoing labour unrest in several states, including Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCR, where workers have been demanding higher minimum wages and improved working conditions. According to the union, many industrial workers continue to receive salaries between ₹9,000 and ₹11,000 a month and are seeking a minimum monthly wage of ₹26,000.

BEFI alleged that workers participating in protests had faced police action, arrests and criminal cases in some states even before the Labour Codes officially came into force. The organisation further claimed that the new legal framework would make it harder for employees to form unions, negotiate collectively or organise strikes.

The federation also criticised provisions that it said would increase contractual employment, extend working hours and make layoffs easier for employers. It argued that penalties against employers had been diluted under the new system, reducing accountability for labour violations.

The union accused the government of moving ahead with the notification without holding discussions with central trade unions or convening the Indian Labour Conference, which it said has not met for more than a decade.

BEFI called upon bank employees and other sections of workers to intensify protests against the Labour Codes and demanded that the Centre immediately begin consultations with trade unions. The organisation also appealed to the public to support workers’ movements opposing what it described as “anti-labour” reforms.