Madikeri: The Kodagu district unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a protest in Madikeri opposing the Union govt’s four new labour codes. The protesters said that the new code would have adverse effects on workers and sought them to be scrapped.The CITU district secretary, PR Bharath, condemned the unilateral implementation of anti-labour codes. He added that this is an inhumane step taken by the Union govt against the working class. “Despite strong opposition, the ruling govt at the Centre is moving to implement the four labour codes. The Union govt has issued a notification by compiling 29 labour laws that were favourable to workers into four codes. These codes are in favour of the wealthy and are against the interests of the workers. Union govt should immediately withdraw these codes,” he demanded.AC Sabu, district president of the CITU, said that the Union govt is moving to increase the working hours of workers to 12 hours through the new labour codes. “This is not only related to workers, but also to midday meal and anganwadi workers. The central govt is moving to push workers into slavery through such laws,” he alleged.He claimed that the Union govt is implementing laws to favour the capitalists. “Such laws and codes that provide convenience to private companies are fatal to the labour community. If the labour code is implemented, there is a fear that the workers who were exploited will lose their right to file a complaint. There are proposals to resolve it through mediation within three months if the aggrieved worker files a complaint. This is a rule that is unfair to workers on a large scale,” he opined.The protesters alleged that the Union govt has adopted an anti-labour and anti-farmer attitude. “Farmers in Punjab had to protest for years against anti-farmer attitudes. Many farmers lost their lives during this period. The Centre is now trying to oppress labour community through labour codes,” alleged Kuttapan, treasurer of district CITU. The protesters burnt the copy of the labour code and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
