Trade unions slam “anti-labour” policies of the Centre

Members of trade unions, including the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), INTUC, CITU, AIUTC, MMS, LPF and the AICCTU, staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate here on Thursday protesting the “anti-labour” policies of the Union government.

The labour policies of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi were pro-corporate, they said.

Hundreds of leaders and cadres of 11 Central trade unions staged the protest to denounce the government’s policy of disinvestment of public sector undertakings and for increasing foreign direct investment in various sectors.

The leaders who spoke at the dharna slammed various decisions taken by the government, which they said would have a negative impact on working conditions of employees.

Describing the government’s move to hike or allow FDI in defence, insurance and railways and the decision for disinvestment in public sector units, the trade union leaders said it would be detrimental to the interests of the economy and national security and to the common people.

The leaders alleged that labour law reforms had been undertaken favouring big corporate companies.