Congress accuses Modi government of pro-corporate Labour Codes
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal on Monday alleged that the Modi government's new Labour Codes are designed to benefit corporations at the expense of workers' rights. He demanded that the laws be sent back for parliamentary scrutiny to restore balance in favour of labourers.
Details of the allegation
Venugopal stated, "These laws must be sent back for Parliamentary scrutiny to restore the balance in favour of the workers, not big business." He argued that the codes undermine existing protections and give employers excessive flexibility, potentially leading to exploitation.
Impact on workers
The Labour Codes consolidate 29 central labour laws into four codes: on wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety. Critics claim they weaken safety standards, reduce overtime pay, and make it easier to hire and fire workers without adequate compensation.
According to trade unions, the codes could affect over 500 million workers in the formal and informal sectors. They argue that provisions like fixed-term employment and increased working hours (up to 12 hours a day with overtime) erode hard-won labour rights.
Government's defence
The central government has defended the reforms, stating they aim to simplify compliance, boost ease of doing business, and create more jobs. Labour ministry officials have said the codes include safeguards such as mandatory social security for gig workers and increased thresholds for layoff permissions.
However, Venugopal countered, "The Modi government has designed these codes for the ease of corporates, trampling the rights of labourers." He called for a joint parliamentary committee review to ensure worker interests are protected.
