In India ten major trade unions have sharply criticised the government’s rollout of sweeping new labour codes calling the reforms a “deceptive fraud” against the country’s workforce. The unions many aligned with opposition parties issued a joint statement on Friday demanding that the laws be withdrawn. They are also preparing for nationwide protests scheduled for Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has implemented four major labour codes legislation approved by parliament five years ago as part of an effort to modernise and simplify work regulations some of which date back to the colonial era. Officials say the new framework is designed to attract investment and improve protections for workers.
The codes expand social security coverage and reinforce minimum wage guarantees. However unions argue the reforms undermine job security noting that companies will now be able to hire and dismiss workers with greater ease.
Despite several rounds of demonstrations in recent years the government has continued consultations with union representatives more than a dozen meetings since June 2024 according to an internal Labour Ministry document. The ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the latest union demands.
Among the most contentious changes are provisions allowing longer factory shifts permitting night shifts for women workers and raising the threshold for companies that must seek government approval before layoffs from 100 employees to 300. Unions say these measures tilt the balance in favour of employers while the government argues the reforms bring India’s labour environment closer to international standards.
The escalating dispute highlights the deep divide between the government’s economic reform agenda and the concerns of millions of workers across the country.
