SEVERAL Opposition MPs, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, protested in Parliament House complex on Wednesday against the new labour codes and demanded their scrapping. MPs of the Congress, DMK, TMC, Left parties, among others, participated in the protest in front of the Makar Dwar of Parliament. Slamming the Centre, Kharge accused the Modi Government of being “anti-labour, anti-worker and pro-cronies”.

 

In a post on X after the protest by the Opposition, Kharge said the Opposition parties protested against the Modi Government in Parliament premises, expressing strong objection about the newly implemented labour codes. “Some of the serious concerns in the New Codes are -- threat to job security. Layoff threshold raised from 100 to 300 workers i.e. more than 80% of factories in India can now lay off or retrench workers without Government approval, reducing job security.

 

Expansion of FixedTermEmployment (FTE) will endmanypermanentjobs. Companiescannowhireworkers on short-term contracts, avoiding long-term benefits,” the Congress chief said. “Coupled with State-determined overtime limits, this effectivelypermitsmuchlonger workdays, increasing fatigue and safety risks even when labelled‘consensual’,” he said. “Workers must wait 60 days before striking, plus a 14-day cooling-off period. This prevents quick action against unsafe or unfair conditions.

 

Requiring one union with 51% membership to be the sole negotiator sidelines smaller unions and reduces representation for diverse worker groups,” Kharge said. He pointed out that standingorderswillnotapply tounits with fewer than 300 workers. “Basic rules on working hours, leave, and termination will not be mandatory. This mayincreasearbitrary‘hireand fire’practicesinmedium-sized units,” theCongress chief said.

 

Alleging that thecodesweakened safety and welfare of workers, Kharge said that by raising the definition of a factory to 20 workers (with power) and 40 workers (without power) where violations and unsafe conditions are most common, they fall outside the law’s safety net.