India Labour Codes and Worker Protests

The Indian government has officially notified four new Labour Codes, consolidating 29 existing labour laws aimed at simplifying compliance and enhancing social security, particularly for gig workers, leading to nationwide protests by trade unions.

Why This Matters

Worker rights and labor laws are critical national issues that affect millions of employees and provoke significant public discourse, especially among the workforce and labor unions.

Public Sentiment Summary

Public sentiment towards the new Labour Codes is overwhelmingly negative, with widespread fears that they prioritize corporate interests at the expense of worker rights. Concerns include increased job insecurity, potential exploitation, longer working hours without appropriate protections, and inadequate benefits for employees. While some acknowledge possible benefits from modernizing labor laws, the prevailing view is one of distrust and apprehension, particularly among workers and labor unions.

Highlighted Comments

My employer has withheld six months of my salary. Hundreds of us are stuck, and the CEO is straight up threatening that if we take legal action, nobody will get paid or they will file bankruptcy.

Seems like Adani wrote these labour laws. Company owners will exploit these rules without any checks.

Government laws always against employees pro employer.

Corporate centric codes introduced to exploit workmen....lotus in encashing mode.....12hrs of official work loads with no tangible pay enhancement but readily available rewards as brutal lay offs....abki baar shramik ke upar prahaar.....

The four labour codes — Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; and the Code on Social Security, 2020 — allows for dilution of workers' rights.

Parties Involved

  • Indian Government
  • Corporations
  • Labor Unions
  • Workers

What the people want

Indian Government: Listen to the voices of workers and ensure that labor laws truly protect their rights rather than serve corporate interests.

Corporations: Prioritize ethical practices and worker rights in your operations to foster trust and security.

Labor Unions: Continue advocating for the rights of workers and press for meaningful changes to protect against exploitation.