Gurgaon: Around 300 workers associated with several trade unions in the Gurgaon-Manesar industrial area protested on Thursday morning against the labour codes introduced by the central government.
The protests started around 11am from old MCG office and then the workers marched till Rajeev Chowk and finally ended the march at Mahavir chowk near the bus stand. Several protests were held in the run up to Thursday’s protest over the past one month.
Trade unions such as Trade Union Council, All India Trade Union Council, Centre of Indian Trade Union and Indian National Trade Union Congress took part in the protest and Asha and aanganwadi workers also joined in.
Anil Pawar, general secretary of AITUC, said that they want the government to announce a fixed wage of Rs 24,000 for all workers and take back all anti-workers laws.
The central government had earlier this year replaced the existing labour laws with three labour codes namely Industrial Relations Code bill, social security code bill and the occupational safety, health and conditions bill. While the government has brought in the bills labeling them reforms, the workers have alleged that the changes in the labour laws will make things tougher for them.
Workers have opposed the increase in working hours in factories and have sought return of jobs to the people who were laid off due to the Covid crisis. “We want the government to roll back the labour codes and ensure that all the laid off workers get their jobs back,” said Jaspal Rana from Hind Mazdoor Sabha.
Meanwhile, the unions also extended their support to the ongoing farmers’ protest and said that the government must also roll back the anti-farmer laws. “We strongly condemn the way the government is trying to crush the farmers’ protest. They must be given a platform to raise their voices,” said Kanwar Lal, Trade Union Congress, adding that the government should also immediately release all farmer leaders who have been arrested.
However, RSS workers’ wing Bharta Majdoor Sangh withdrew their support from Thursday’s protest saying that it was more focused on politicising issues than highlighting the problems faced.