States cannot exploit workers, says Rahul

LABOUR LAW AMENDMENTS

BJP-RULED UP AND MP, TWO STATES WITH A LARGE WORKFORCE, HAVE FROZEN MAJOR LABOUR LAWS

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday opposed amendments to labour laws put in place by some state governments, including in BJP- ruled Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, saying the fight against the Covid-19 cannot be made an excuse to exploit workers and suppress their voices.

“Many states are amending labour laws. We are together fighting against corona, but this cannot be an excuse to crush human rights, allow unsafe workplaces, exploit workers and suppress their voice. There cannot be any compromise on these basic principles,” Gandhi wrote in a Twitter post.

Eight political parties had earlier written to President Ram Nath Kovind protesting against these changes, including extending the daily working hours from eight to 12 in six states. After the face-off between the Centre and the opposition over the return of migrants to their homes, the new labour laws have emerged as another contentious issue. Bjp-ruled UP and MP, two states with substantial workforces, have frozen major labour laws, except basic ones, in the hope that businesses will recoup from the blow of the Covid-19 and create more jobs on a net basis. The changes give industries more flexibility in hiring and firing employees, determining their wages, and reducing their liabilities in terms of providing employee benefits.

Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said it was a shame that Bjp-ruled states were amending labour laws under the cover of a pandemic to lure foreign investors.

BJP spokesperson Gopal Agarwal said labour law reforms is a long standing demand of unions and industries both. “Centre had earlier consolidated 40 existing laws into 4 codes to streamline compliance... Now some state governments are working for further streamlining to help restart the economic cycle. These amendments are for the benefit of the economy as a whole including workers.