By P. Sreekumaran
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The major trade unions in the country except the BMS have decided to toughen their stance against the implementation of the four new labour codes, enactment of a new law to replace the MGNREGA, amendments to the Insurance Act and changes in the nuclear energy laws by calling for a strike on February 12, 2026.
In its statement, a joint platform of 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) has said that these changes amounted to an attack on people’s rights and entitlements. The strike call will be formally endorsed by national convention of workers, to be held on February 9 in New Delhi. The TUs have sounded a stern warning that if the Union Government continued to pursue the notification of the rules under the Codes and did not repeal them, the CTUs will be forced to escalate their agitation through stronger measures, including a multiple-day strike and sectoral resistance actions.
“The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act will allow private and foreign players to enter highly risky and hazardous nuclear power production with the motive of profit-making; it has withdrawn the liability of foreign and national suppliers of instruments in case of accidents/disasters – certainly it is an attack on the nuclear security and sovereignty of our country,” the statement said.
The TUs also alleged that the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act shifted the fiscal burden onto the States. It has compounded the offence by banning the operation of the Act during harvesting season, ensuring cheap labour to the landlords, the statement added. Likewise, 100 per cent FDI in the insurance sector will, for all practical purposes, give foreign players the right to take over domestic insurance players.
Among the States, Kerala has fired the first salvo by deciding to take the lead in raising the demands of workers at the national level, by exerting pressure on the Union Government against the new labour codes. A decision to this effect was taken at a national-level labour conclave organized by the State Labour Department in Thiruvananthapuram on December 19. It termed the new codes brought in by the Union Government replacing the 29 existing laws in the country “anti-labour.”
The conclave also decided that the State Labour Minister, along with representatives of the trade unions, will meet the Union Labour Minister shortly, to point out the anti-worker nature of the codes. Kerala will also emerge as a model for protecting the rights of workers, by ensuring the safety of all sectors of the people, including IT, gig economy, and migrant workers.
The day-long conclave also discussed the possibility of framing special rules for Kerala and how much could a State intervene in the issue as labour was included on the Concurrent List.
The AITUC and the CITU have already submitted their opinion on the draft rules at a workshop organized by the State Labour Department, held way back on July 2, 2022. The INTUC has formed a sub-committee to study the issue. The consensus was that the State Government should put pressure on the Union Government to remove the ‘anti-worker’ provisions in the codes. Since the Union Government was not in agreement with the suggestions, it took no action during the last three years. And signs are that the situation is unlikely to change, according to State Labour Minister V. Sivankutty.
Kerala has opposed 15 to 20 provisions in the codes, including closure of factory with only one month of notice instead of three or decriminalizing violations. Kerala has also decided to form a three-member committee of legal experts to study the codes and suggest solutions. Retired judge V. Gopala Gowda, Professor Shyam Sundar and VarkichanPetta will be the members of the committee. Two research students will also be part of the panel. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a month.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who inaugurated the conclave, said it was the moral duty of a democratically elected government to speak on behalf of the working class, address their concerns and stand with them, especially in the era of increasing inequality between capitalist and labour forces.
In another significant move, Kerala has decided to approach the supreme Court to secure the rightful share of education funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. The decision to move the apex court has been taken as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s reply in Rajya Sabha to a question by John Brittas, MP, has dashed the hopes of the State receiving the pending funds. This was announced by State Education Minister V. Sivankutty.
The State Government is also considering holding a protest against the Union Government in New Delhi with the active involvement of students and education activists to get the withheld funds.
The Minister also accused the Congress MPs from the State of weakening the opposition agreement on PM SHRI (The Prime Minister’s Schools) for Rising India) scheme. The Congress state governments’ decision to implement the scheme has had an adverse impact on the opposition’s attack against the scheme, he added. The Minister also criticized the Union Government’s double standards on the scheme. While Kerala got zero funds under the scheme in 2024-25, State Governments ruled by Congress have implemented the scheme and received the funds. (IPA Service)
