Nationwide strike on Thursday likely to assume proportions of bandh in Kerala
THE nationwide strike called by trade unions representing agricultural, rural, and informal workers on Thursday (February 12), demanding the repeal of the four labour codes and withdrawal of several proposed and existing policies affecting workers and farmers, is expected to assume the proportions of a bandh in Kerala, according to The Hindu.
Banking operations, transport services, and government offices in many areas are expected to be affected. However, essential services such as hospitals, ambulance services, airports, medical facilities, milk distribution, private offices, and ATMs are exempt.
The trade unions allege that the four labour codes will weaken labour protections, restrict the right to strike, dilute social security measures, and favour corporate interests.
The demand list also includes restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, withdrawal of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Electricity Bill and Seed Bill, repeal of amendments affecting land, agriculture, and labour, implementation of revised minimum wages, social security for unorganised workers, regularisation of contract employees, measures to control price rise, and minimum support prices for agricultural produce and others.
Ten major trade unions, including Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), and Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), are participating in the strike.
Ahead of the strike, CPI(M) general secretary M.A.Baby said on Wednesday that the four labour codes were not just anti-labour, but legal documents to enslave the working class to corporate houses.
“The government has abolished 29 labour laws achieved through decades of struggle and replaced them with four codes to gain a stranglehold over workers’ rights. Elderly and sick workers are being left to fend for themselves by weakening social security schemes like EPF, ESI, and pension. There are plans to increase the working hours to 12 hours, which is a violation of international labour standards and will destroy the health of workers. This is a return to the days of the East India Company Raj,” he said.
