Srikakulam: Left parties CPM and CPI strongly opposed to proposed amendments to labour laws

Srikakulam: Different trade unions affiliated to Left parties CPM and CPI strongly opposed to proposed amendments to labour laws by the Central government. The rank and file of Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) staged protests across the district on Friday opposing the BJP-led NDA government at Centre and its anti-workers and labour policies. Speaking on the occasion, CPI district secretary Sanapala Narasimhulu, CPM district secretary Bhaviri Krishna Murthy, CITU state vice-president Duppala Govinda Rao found fault with the Centre for proposed amendments to labour laws during Covid-19 scare.

They alleged several companies retrenched their workers during Covid pandemic and enhanced working hours from 8 to 12 hours avoid payments under over time (OT) duties' allowances, they lamented. All the industrial units removed their 50 per cent staff indiscriminately and inhumanly.

They alleged the Centre's proposed amendments to labour laws would encourage the managements' irregular activities. Raising slogans against the Centre, employees' unions leaders also staged agitations at Central government offices like head post office and Bharath Sanchar Nigum Limited head office. The agitators displayed placards during the agitation opposing Union governments' anti-poor and anti-workers policies. Both the trade unions and employees associations demanded the government to assist workers' community in the wake of Covid scare as they are losing their livelihood.

Instead of taking welfare measures for workers, they alleged the Central government was resorting to harass workers' community through managements of industries by amending laws in favour of managements.