Trade Unions to observe April 1 as 'Black Day', stage protest against labour reforms

New Delhi, A joint platform of central trade unions on Friday gave a call for observing April 1, 2026, as Black Day, to stage a protest against the four labour codes implemented by the government.

The government of India implemented four labour codes -- Code on Wages 2019, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Social Security Code 2020, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020, from November 21, 2025.

The Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations call upon the trade unions to organise 1st April as Black Day, a day which has also been declared by the union government as the day for notification of the Central rules for the implementation of the four labour codes, a statement said.


The trade unions have consistently opposed and demanded scrapping of these anti-workers, pro-employer labour codes brought in the name of 'labour reform' to facilitate 'Ease of Doing Business', it stated.

The Central government is reluctant to withdraw Labour Codes or call a meaningful meeting with Central Trade Unions regarding the issue, even after the historic 12th February General Strike, it stated.

They alleged that no consultations with trade unions were held from the drafting stage; no Indian Labour Conference called for discussions on such a serious matter over the lives of the workforce of this country, in violation of international labour standards to which India as a nation state is signatory and committed.

They further alleged that these labour codes are to push the workforce, the wealth producers of our country, once again to the exploitative conditions of the British colonial era.

"We, the Central Trade Unions, appeal to all sections of society to extend their support to this protest programme to retain the hard-won right to organise and right to collective bargain and to ensure the right to protest/fight for our legitimate entitlements that were contemplated through labour law codification," they said in the statement.

They stated that 1st April should be observed as a Black Day in all workplaces across the country.

It should be observed in different formats as per the decision of the state units jointly and independently, and with solidarity support from the SKM (Samyukta Kisan Morcha).

It should be observed with black badges, bands on arms/forehead at workplaces, lunch hour protest with slogans, protest dharnas and processions wherever possible, cycle/motorcycle jathas or any other innovative methods.

The joint forum of trade unions includes AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.