Labour Codes favour corporates, allege Left leaders
CPI(M) Srikakulam district secretary D. Govinda Rao and CITU State secretary P. Tejeswara Rao on Friday mounted pressure on the Union government to immediately scrap the Labour Codes, contending that the legislation serves corporate interests while leaving workers in the lurch.
As May Day observances swept across the district, Left parties and trade unions took to the streets, organising rallies and public meetings in various parts of Srikakulam.
Addressing the gatherings, Mr. Govinda Rao stressed that the old Labour Acts must be reinstated without delay to protect the rights and welfare of the working class. He alleged that workers were being forced to toil for 12 hours a day in exchange for paltry wages.
Mr. Tejeswara Rao flagged the long-pending issue of minimum wages, which, he pointed out, had not been revised in over 15 years. He demanded that the government fix the minimum monthly wage at ₹26,000, arguing it was essential for workers to cope with rising prices and maintain a decent standard of living.
Trade union leaders B. Murali, M. Adinarayana Murthy, M. Govinda Rao, and others were also present.