Labour Codes a Comprehensive Assault on Labour Rights; CITU Calls General Strike

Visakhapatnam: The 18th National Conference of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has called for a nationwide general strike on February 12, 2026, demanding the repeal of the four Labour Codes and an end to the continuing attack on the rights and livelihoods of working people. The resolution was adopted at the conference held at “Comrade Anathalavattom Anandan Nagar” in Visakhapatnam.

The conference expressed full support to the call given by the joint platform of central trade unions for the general strike, with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha also extending its backing. It resolved to mobilise all organisational strength to ensure the success of the strike, describing the proposed one-day action as a warning to the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

The resolution made it clear that any attempt by the Union government to forcibly implement the Labour Codes by notifying the rules or through other measures would be met with intensified resistance, including multi-day general strikes and higher forms of struggle, until the codes are scrapped.

The conference took note of the massive nationwide protests held on November 26, 2025, during which demonstrations were organised in more than 500 districts across workplaces, industrial areas, rural regions and block-level centres. Workers from organised and unorganised sectors, public sector undertakings, government services and various scheme-based employments participated in large numbers. They were joined by agricultural labourers, farmers, students and youth, reflecting growing unity between workers and farmers.

The resolution stated that the four Labour Codes amount to a comprehensive assault on labour rights won through decades of struggle. It said the codes weaken trade unions by restricting the right to organise and strike, extend working hours, promote hire-and-fire practices, expand contractual and fixed-term employment without adequate safeguards, dilute occupational safety standards, dismantle inspection mechanisms and weaken labour adjudication, while decriminalising violations by employers and intensifying repression of workers’ struggles.

The conference criticised the Union government for disregarding tripartism and for not convening the Indian Labour Conference for nearly a decade despite repeated demands by trade unions. It also objected to the notification of the Labour Codes in the face of widespread opposition and the use of public funds for misleading propaganda on their supposed benefits.

Linking the labour law changes to wider developments, the conference said the attacks on workers’ rights are part of a broader assault on constitutional and democratic values, federalism and autonomous institutions, accompanied by attempts to divide working people through communal and divisive politics.

CITU said the proposed general strike represents a decisive assertion of the collective will of working people to defend their rights, livelihoods and democratic values, and to intensify the united struggle against policies harming the people and the national economy.

The conference called upon all affiliated unions, state committees, all-India federations and coordination committees to begin preparations immediately. It also urged workers across the country, irrespective of organisational affiliation, to unite in the struggle to compel the withdrawal of the Labour Codes, stating that this is a fight the working class cannot afford to lose.