The Kerala state government has taken a decisive step to challenge the Centre's four new labour codes, which it deems detrimental to workers' interests. At a labour conclave held in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, the government announced the formation of a high-powered committee of three legal experts to scrutinize the central laws.
Expert Committee to Submit Report Within a Month
The conclave decided to form a committee led by Justice V Gopala Gowda, along with Professor Shyam Sundar and Varkiachan Pettah. This panel has a clear mandate: to conduct a thorough study of the Centre's labour codes, assess their potential impact on the workforce in Kerala, and propose solutions to address the arising issues. The committee is expected to submit its preliminary report within one month.
Unanimous Stand Against "Anti-Worker" Codes
The conclave concluded with a strong, unanimous resolution to continue an uncompromising fight against what participants labeled as central laws that undermine workers' fundamental rights. The participants, including trade unions and labour representatives, passed a resolution terming the four codes as detrimental to workers and favourable to corporate interests.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who inaugurated the event, criticized the manner in which the codes were passed. He stated that the Centre pushed the labour codes through Parliament in the absence of a strong opposition, highlighting the "dubious nature of the reforms." He further accused the central government of imposing the laws without holding proper discussions with trade unions or convening the Indian Labor Conference since 2015.
Key Concerns and Kerala's Constitutional Stand
Labour Minister V Sivankutty elaborated on the state's specific objections. He argued that the new codes consolidate 29 major labour laws in a way that protects corporate interests over workers' rights and violates International Labor Organization conventions.
Minister Sivankutty outlined several critical concerns:
- Extended Work Hours: The provision to extend work hours from eight to twelve enables exploitation of workers.
- Fixed-Term Employment: This weakens job security and stability.
- Right to Strike: The new laws dilute the fundamental right to strike.
- Social Security: The codes fail to ensure social security for the vast majority of workers in the unorganized sector, including gig workers.
Emphasizing Kerala's firm stance, Sivankutty noted that while many other states have amended their laws in favour of the central codes, Kerala has resisted. He declared that since labour is a concurrent subject, the state government will use its constitutional authority to protect workers' rights and oppose what it sees as anti-worker amendments.
