Shimla

Workers associated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), held a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Shimla on Tuesday against the implementation of the Centre’s new labour codes.

The demonstrators accused the Union government of diluting labour rights and increasing the vulnerability of workers to exploitation.

During the protest, workers raised slogans against the Central Government and symbolically burnt copies of the newly introduced labour codes as part of a nationwide agitation called by trade unions.

Addressing the gathering, CITU state president Vijender Mehara said the protest was organised in support of workers’ movements taking place across the country.

He alleged that labourers demanding salary hikes in response to rising inflation were facing police action, arrests, and legal cases.

Mehara said trade unions are demanding a minimum monthly wage of Rs 30,000 to help workers cope with the increasing cost of living.

Criticising the labour reforms introduced by the Centre, he claimed that the new codes — framed during the COVID-19 pandemic period and implemented recently — would negatively impact workers nationwide.

According to him, the labour codes promote fixed-term employment, allow working hours to increase from eight to twelve hours in certain sectors, weaken legal safeguards for workers, and impose tighter restrictions on strikes and labour protests.

He further alleged that nearly 70 per cent of workers and establishments could remain outside the effective coverage of labour laws under the new system, potentially leading to greater exploitation and higher unemployment.

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Mehara added that the Shimla demonstration was part of a larger nationwide campaign by trade unions demanding stronger labour rights, fair wages, and improved living standards for workers.