Trade unions take out rally in Ballari, demand rollback of labour codes
The agitating activists demanded the withdrawal of the four labour codes, halting of privatisation of public sector undertakings such as insurance, banking and railways and rolling back of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022.
The protest also called for the regularisation of ASHAs, anganwadi and mid-day meal workers as government employees, abolition of the contract system, fixing of minimum wages at ₹36,000, implementation of an eight-hour workday, legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers and curbing inflation.
Following the rally, a protest meeting was held in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office.
Leaders from various trade unions and mass organisations, including K. Somashekar (State AITUC president), J. Satyababu ( CITU district president), H.A. Adimurthy (AITUC district president) and representatives from insurance, banking, ASHAs, anganwadi, mid-day meal workers unions and farmers associations, addressed the gathering.
In their speeches, the union leaders criticised the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for what they termed 'anti-worker' and 'pro-corporate' policies.
They said that by pushing the four labour codes, the Central government is dismantling the existing protection for workers, including rights related to working hours, wages, social security, unionisation, collective bargaining and protest.
While workers fighting for their rights are criminalised, corporate violators of labour laws are being encouraged in the name of ease of doing business, they said.
They also criticised the Congress-led government in the State for continuing anti-farmer policies of the previous administration and for facilitating land acquisition in the name of development.
Proposed amendments to the Factories Act, including lifting restrictions on night shifts and hazardous work for women, were also condemned.
Speakers stressed that both Central and State governments have failed to control price rise and called for stronger, united struggles by workers and farmers to get pro-corporate policies rolled back.
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