Dear Comrades,
The recent notification and operationalisation of the four Labour Codes by the Union Government — namely the Code on Wages, the Industrial Relations Code, the Code on Social Security, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code — marks one of the biggest changes in India’s labour regime since Independence. These Codes replace 29 existing labour laws and have now been brought into force despite continuous and united resistance from Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations across the country.
As reflected in several newspaper reports, the government claims that the new Codes will modernise labour administration, improve ease of doing business, and expand social security coverage. However, the organised working class views these measures as deeply anti-worker and pro-corporate. Trade unions have strongly objected to provisions facilitating hire-and-fire policies, weakening collective bargaining, increasing contractualisation, restricting the right to strike, and diluting long-fought protections relating to wages, working hours, job security, and trade union rights.
Serious concerns have also been raised regarding the removal of scientific criteria for fixing minimum wages, which many labour economists fear will widen wage inequality and reduce wage protection for millions of workers. Reports indicate that even long-standing recommendations linked to nutrition, housing, clothing, education, and healthcare expenses have been dropped from the wage fixation framework.
Across the nation, workers, employees, scheme workers, transport workers, industrial labourers, and public sector employees have repeatedly organised protests, demonstrations, Black Day observances, strikes, and mass mobilisations against these Codes. Trade unions have accused the government of ignoring workers’ objections and bypassing meaningful tripartite consultation mechanisms.
The history of labour rights in India was not gifted by rulers or corporations; it was won through sacrifice, imprisonment, blood, and decades of collective struggle by workers and trade unions. The eight-hour working day, minimum wages, pension, provident fund, bonus, gratuity, maternity benefits, and the right to organise were achieved only because workers stood united against exploitation. Any attempt to dilute these rights must therefore be resisted with greater unity and determination.
Today, the call before the working class of India is clear:
Unite stronger than ever. Organise in every workplace. Resist every anti-worker attack. Strengthen trade unions. Build solidarity between organised and unorganised workers, permanent and contract workers, rural and urban labourers. Continue the democratic struggle until these anti-worker Labour Codes are repealed and genuine worker-friendly labour laws are restored.
The strength of the nation lies not in corporate profits, but in the hands of millions of workers who build its roads, run its factories, deliver its services, cultivate its fields, and sustain its economy. When workers rise united, no force can defeat them.
Workers of India — Unite, Organise, Resist, and Struggle Forward!
Long Live Working Class Unity!
Long Live Trade Union Movement!
-Bruhaspati Samal-
General Secretary
Confederation Odisha State CoC, Bhubaneswar
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