On Labour Day, Mallikarjun Kharge highlights workers' 'struggle' under BJP-led government

Time of India

01-05-2025

NEW DELHI: Congress president
on Thursday extended heartfelt greetings to workers on
International Labour Day
. He highlighted three issues to make the nation aware of "problems and struggles" of workers under the BJP-led government.
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Kharge posted on X, "Today is a very special day for me because today is Labour Day. The development of any country is impossible without workers. Heartiest wishes and congratulations to the millions of workers across the country on International Labour Day. I started my life advocating for the rights of workers. It is the power of Indian democracy that a son of a mill worker like me got the opportunity to handle the labour ministry in the central government.
By dedicating themselves to nation building through hard work and struggle, our labourer brothers and sisters strengthen the foundation of the country with their own hands."
The Rajya Sabha LoP then raised his three "key" concerns regarding labourers' struggles under the incumbent government.
Kharge said, "First,
MNREGA
- which is the Congress' guarantee to employ the most vulnerable workers, has been continuously axed by the Modi government.
The budget has been reduced. 7 crore workers were dropped from MNREGA. Daily wages were not increased. We demand that MNREGA workers should get Rs 400 per day and their working days should be increased from 100 to 150 days."
He added, "Secondly, labour unions have opposed the government's Labour Code. In it, the government has increased the daily working hours and has given permission to fire up to 300 factory workers at one time.
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All internationally accepted provisions such as minimum wages, retirement benefits, social security, and 8 hours of work - the Labour Code has abolished all of them. Our demand from the government is that all these provisions should be restored after talking to the labour unions."
He further stated, "Third, unemployment is the biggest problem in the country. Under the Modi government, the country's youth have been trapped in a labyrinth of paper leaks, recruitment exam rigging, corruption, and unemployment.
The central government alone has are 10 lakh vacancies, from which 50% of SC, ST, OBC, and EWS youth can benefit. Additionally, those employed have not seen any increase in their income. By selling PSUs, the government has eliminated 5.1 lakh regular jobs, and there has been an increase of 91 per cent in contract/casual hiring in the central government posts."
Kharge also praised Congress-led state governments for enacting laws to support gig workers and unorganised sector labourers, and accused the Modi government of failing to provide social security.
"Big claims are being made only on paper. Today, we must once again resolve to fight and struggle for the rights of workers. The Congress will ensure 'labour justice so that the self-respect of the workers is protected," he assured.