Members of several organizations are staging a protest under the auspices of the Joint Committee of Trade Unions in Kalaburagi on Wednesday. | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Members of the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU), a consortium of various trade organisations, staged a protest in Kalaburagi on Wednesday against the Centre’s four new labor codes and demanding protection of workers’ rights.
The demonstration followed a nationwide call by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) against what they called the central government’s anti-farmer and anti-labour policies.
Members of various organizations including Central Indian Trade Union (CITU) district president Shanta Ghanti, its district secretary MB Sajjan, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) district president Prabhudev Yelsanghi and All India United Trade Union Center (AIUTUC) district secretary SM Sharma, Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPPPRS) India district president Sabbasha Mamshe Sharana and Sabbasha district president Mamshe Sharana Bhimashankar Madiyal have gathered at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Chowk and burnt copies of new labor codes.
The protesters condemned the privatization of public sector enterprises, the introduction of the new Shram Shakti Niti-2025 and four new labor codes. They urged both the state and central governments to start immediate negotiations with union leaders and withdraw the recently introduced policy.
The unions demanded that the government immediately withdraw the November 21 notification to enforce the four labor codes and urged the state government not to make rules under the codes.
The organizations stressed the need to scientifically set minimum wages in line with the proposals made by the Joint Committee of Trade Unions and also urged the government to reverse the recent changes to the Factory Act, saying that the imposition of 12-hour work shifts would put a severe burden on the workforce.
The agitators also demanded adequate budget allocation to the Unorganized Workers Social Security Board along with provision of pension benefits and streamlining of fee collection for timely delivery of social security benefits.
Unions have raised concerns about wage discrimination in the garment industry and beedi factories and called on the government to rectify the disparities and announce a uniform minimum wage for all categories of scheduled employment.
The protesters demanded guaranteed minimum wages for anganwadi workers, mid-day meal workers and ASHAs, saying these essential frontline workers continue to be underpaid despite their significant contributions.
Published – 27 Nov 2025 19:07 IST
