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The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Labour unions in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi stage protests opposing Centre's labour policies
Responding to a call by the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU), trade unions in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi staged protests as part of a nationwide general strike against the Union government's labour policies and privatisation push. The unions demanded the withdrawal of four labour codes, halting the privatisation of public sector undertakings such as insurance, banking and railways and the rollback of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022. They demanded the regularisation of ASHAs, anganwadi and mid-day meal workers as government employees, the abolition of the contract system, the fixing of minimum wages at ₹36,000, the implementation of an eight-hour workday, a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers, and curbing inflation. A procession was taken out from Ambedkar Circle to the Clock Tower in Mangaluru. Addressing the protesters at the Clock Tower, near Mini Vidhana Soudha, Sunil Kumar Bajal, general secretary, CITU, Dakshina Kannada, alleged that the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is protecting only the interests of corporate bodies. The Union government has neutralised the spirit and aspirations of labour laws, he alleged. The AITUC's Dakshina Kannada district general secretary, Seetharama Berinja, said that labourers should not be looked down upon. Labourers should be given social security and pension benefits, he said. Protests in Udupi A procession was taken out from the City Bus Stand in Udupi to the Head Post Office. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister was submitted to the Superintendent of Posts. Speaking on the occasion, Balakrishna Shetty, CITU State vice-president, said that by pushing the four labour codes, the Union government is dismantling the existing protection for workers, including rights related to working hours, wages, social security, unionisation, collective bargaining and protest. Protests were held in Kundapur and Byndoor.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Trade unions take out rally in Ballari, demand rollback of labour codes
The Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) of Ballari took out a rally from Gandhi Bhavan to the Deputy Commissioner's office in that city on Wednesday, as part of a nation-wide protest against the Centre's labour policies and privatisation push. The agitating activists demanded the withdrawal of the four labour codes, halting of privatisation of public sector undertakings such as insurance, banking and railways and rolling back of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022. The protest also called for the regularisation of ASHAs, anganwadi and mid-day meal workers as government employees, abolition of the contract system, fixing of minimum wages at ₹36,000, implementation of an eight-hour workday, legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers and curbing inflation. Following the rally, a protest meeting was held in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office. Leaders from various trade unions and mass organisations, including K. Somashekar (State AITUC president), J. Satyababu ( CITU district president), H.A. Adimurthy (AITUC district president) and representatives from insurance, banking, ASHAs, anganwadi, mid-day meal workers unions and farmers associations, addressed the gathering. In their speeches, the union leaders criticised the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for what they termed 'anti-worker' and 'pro-corporate' policies. They said that by pushing the four labour codes, the Central government is dismantling the existing protection for workers, including rights related to working hours, wages, social security, unionisation, collective bargaining and protest. While workers fighting for their rights are criminalised, corporate violators of labour laws are being encouraged in the name of ease of doing business, they said. They also criticised the Congress-led government in the State for continuing anti-farmer policies of the previous administration and for facilitating land acquisition in the name of development. Proposed amendments to the Factories Act, including lifting restrictions on night shifts and hazardous work for women, were also condemned. Speakers stressed that both Central and State governments have failed to control price rise and called for stronger, united struggles by workers and farmers to get pro-corporate policies rolled back.
