Budget Session: Opposition backs national trade union strike, forces Lok Sabha adjournment

New Delhi: Opposition members on Thursday forced a brief adjournment of the Lok Sabha question hour by expressing their support to the day-long national strike by the trade unions, protesting the India-US trade deal and raising state issues. They also staged a protest outside Parliament House.

The opposition members then returned to join the House proceedings and participated in the discussion on the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill introduced by labour and employment minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Opposing the bill, the opposition members alleged it was yet another government move to favour industrialists at the cost of the interests of workers, after having "snatched away" many of workers' rights through the earlier legislations on labour code.


Opening the debate, Congress MP Suresh Kodikunnil, who was labour minister in the erstwhile UPA government, said, "Today's national strike is a warning signal. That central trade unions, public sector unions, banking employees, electricity and transport employees, and unorganised labourers have formed such a broad alliance against the government is indicative of the policy failure. Instead of pursuing dialogue with workers, this government has chosen to dominate labourers. The UPA government was a pro-labour government unlike the current regime which is implementing regressive policies."

Kalyan Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress said the original legislation (which is being sought to be amended with the bill) itself had taken away many rights of the workers. "Labour force is India's key strength, after agriculture. This law gives all powers to the employer. This government is becoming more friendly with industrialists and removing checks for them."