04 Labour Codes Are Anti-Worker and Pro-Corporate, Says AITUC National Secretary C. Srikumar

OPINION PIECE

C. Srikumar, National Secretary of AITUC and Deputy General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions, has strongly criticized the Central Government’s decision to implement the four Labour Codes from November 21, 2025, calling them “counter-reforms” that benefit corporates and employers at the cost of workers’ rights.

The Modi Government, after its decisive victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, notified the rollout of the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Social Security Code (2020) and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020) — replacing and rationalizing 29 existing labour laws.

Although the Government stated that it would hold wide-ranging consultations while framing the corresponding rules and schemes, major Central Trade Unions have rejected the move. In contrast, the RSS-affiliated BMS welcomed the implementation.

Trade Unions Call It “A Deceptive Fraud”

Central Trade Unions including AITUC, INTUC, HMS, CITU, along with several sectoral federations, issued a joint statement condemning the Codes as “a deceptive fraud on the working people of the nation.”

They have jointly called for a Nationwide Protest on November 26, 2025, demanding the scrapping of the four Labour Codes and immediate convening of the Indian Labour Conference (ILC).

“Government Has Not Convened ILC in 10 Years”

C. Srikumar highlighted that the Government has not convened the ILC for a decade, violating the constitutional requirement of holding the tripartite conference annually to discuss labour issues, ILO conventions, and any proposed changes to labour laws.

He alleged that the Government is bypassing democratic consultation and has centralized powers by replacing 29 laws with simplified Codes, enabling amendments without Parliamentary approval.

Key Concerns Raised by Srikumar and Trade Unions

1. Restrictions on Trade Union Registration and Rights

• New codes make registration of trade unions more difficult.

• Strike provisions have been heavily restricted.

• For recognition, unions now need 51% membership, which Srikumar says is unrealistic and designed to curtail collective bargaining.

• If no union meets the threshold, a negotiating council with unions having 20% support will be formed — but with unclear authority.

2. Legalization of Hire-and-Fire

• Fixed Term Employment has been legalized, which unions believe will end permanent jobs across Government, PSUs, and private sector.

• Employers may avoid hiring beyond 11 months to evade gratuity, despite eligibility being reduced from 5 years to 1 year.

3. Dilution of Inspector Powers

• Labour Inspectors are now “facilitators,” reducing their authority.

• Employers can escape violations by paying nominal fines.

4. Weakening of Collective Bargaining Rights

• India has not ratified key ILO conventions —

• Convention 87 (Freedom of Association)

• Convention 98 (Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining)

Srikumar argues that Governments avoid ratification to escape obligations on workers’ rights to strike and criticize Government policies.

“Labour Cannot Be Ignored — They Are the Wealth Creators”

Srikumar stated that while the Government promotes slogans like “Nari Shakti,” “Yuva Shakti,” “Viksit Bharat,” the actual policies undermine workers’ rights.

He warned that the Labour Codes will:

• Push India backward by decades

• Erode job security

• Promote casualisation

• Increase unemployment

• Weaken collective bargaining

He added that employees of the Central Government, Defence, Railways, Postal, State Governments, along with workers from PSUs, private sector, unorganised sector and farmers, are joining the nationwide protest on November 26, 2025.

Srikumar concluded that the Government must withdraw the four Labour Codes and convene the Indian Labour Conference to address workers’ concerns and ensure protection of their rights.

Views expressed here are those of C. Srikumar, veteran Trade Union Leader and also, the General Secretary of AIDEF. He is also the National Secretary of AITUC and Deputy General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions.