TRADE UNIONS WANT LABOUR CODES TO BE PUT ON HOLD

NEW DELHI: New Delhi: A joint platform of 10 central trade unions on Wednesday demanded putting on hold implementation of four labour codes and start fresh discus sions in the true spirit of bipartite and tripartite consultations.

The statement was issued by the joint forum comprising ten central trade unions -- Indian National T rade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC), Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), All Indi a Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).

The platform also consists of independent federations and associations.

"The Central Trade Unions demanded that all the four c odes should be put on hold and then discussions should start with the

Central Trade Unions on each of the Labour Code afresh in the true spirit of bipartite and tripartite consultations," the statement said.

"We do not accept this meeting as consultation but a farce to camouflage consultations," the forum said. In a letter written to L abour Minister Santosh Gangwar, the unions also protested against the non-holding of the Indian L abour Conference for the past five years.

The L abour Ministr y is in the process of finalising rules under the labour codes for implementation of these new laws.