Oppn in Lok Sabha accuses govt of siding with industrialists

New Delhi: The Opposition on Thursday accused the government of favouring industrialists over workers while drafting the industrial relations code, even snatching away their right to protest for demands.

Initiating a discussion on the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, Congress member Kodikunnil Suresh said that instead of dialogue, the government has chosen to dominate labourers.

Suresh, a former Union Minister of State for Labour, said the strike call given by workers on Thursday was a “warning signal” and reflected the government’s policy failure in dealing with the labour force.

“Today’s strike is a warning signal. Central trade unions, public sector unions, banking employees, electricity and transport employees, and unorganised labour; such a broad alliance against the government is indicative of policy failure,” he said.

The Congress leader said the law mandates workers to give a 14-day notice before going on strike.

Pointing out that participation of women in labour force has declined, Suresh said the new codes do not help overcome this problem.

“The UPA government was a pro-labour government, unlike the current regime. We introduced MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), upheld social justice, introduced the Food Security Act and helped labourers across sectors,” he said, also accusing the government of privatising Public Sector Undertakings.

Samajwadi Party leader Afzal Ansari questioned the government’s legislative practices and asked why it has to amend laws within five years of their enactment.

“This amendment is a cover-up of the law’s shortcomings,” he said.

Ansari said there is no safety for labourers in India.

“During Covid, migrant labourers were treated horrifically by the Union government. They were lathi-charged and left without any means to support themselves. Time and again, this government has proved that they do nothing for the labourers,” he said.

Shiv Sena-UBT member Arvind Sawant said the government was protecting industrialists and not labourers.

“For over 20 years, people have been working as contract labourers. If people keep working at the same wage for years, how will development happen?” Sawant asked.

He said that when people are hired on fixed-term contracts, they cannot take loans or get married, as their jobs are not permanent.

“The law being brought and its provisions are dangerous. It is aimed at snatching the rights of workers. I oppose it,” Sawant said.