Labour laws reforms: Trade unions to hold protest tomorrow

NEW DELHI: All central trade unions including RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will hold a nationwide stir tomorrow to protest against the "anti-worker" labour laws amendments and the Narendra Modi government's initiative to disinvest public sector enterprises.

The central trade unions said demonstrations will be held "unitedly" across the country at the state as well as district headquarters against the "anti-labour" reforms initiatives.

"All the trade unions are on board and a massive protest will be organised throughout the country tomorrow," Gurudas Dasgupta, general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), told.

BMS, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), AITUC, Centre of Indian Trade Unions ( CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) and other organisations will take part in the protest.

"The government promised to discuss with us the proposed amendments to the labour laws. But they have not discussed with us and are going ahead with them unilateral," Dasgupta said, and termed the reforms measures as "pro-corporate and anti-worker".

The unions are also opposing disinvestment of public sector undertakings (PSUs), and FDI in defence production, railways and insurance.

"The central trade unions are observing December 5 as 'All India Protest Day' to oppose the anti-labour amendments in labour laws and disinvestment of public sector units, FDI, unemployment, and contractrtulisations...," said Dhirendra Sharma, general secretary of Delhi state committee of AITUC.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier unveiled a string of labour reforms, including measures to end 'inspector raj', asserting that ease of doing business is "essential" to ensure that 'Make-in-India' campaign is successful.

Left parties such as CPI(M) have already slammed the reform measures, saying the Modi government would continue to serve the interests of the employers in the name of labour reforms.

The party has given its support to the protest actions by the central trade unions and national federations of employees against the "anti-worker amendments in labour laws".