The new labor laws announced by the Union government aim to create a “union-free atmosphere” in the country, said Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) state general secretary Elamaram Kareem.
He told the media here on Saturday that the new codes, which were created after the amalgamation of 28 pre-independence and post-independence laws, will make collective bargaining of workers for their rights an uphill task. “The Center postponed the notification of these codes after stiff opposition from central unions. Looks like the Bihar results have boosted the morale of the Union government,” Kareem said.
It could be difficult to form unions in workplaces and factories. Management should have the freedom to “hire” and “fire” employees at their own will. The number of permanent staff could be reduced as the government introduced something called “fixed-term employment”, which would help management hire only those who dance to their tunes, Mr Kareem said.
Although the codes promise social security benefits for gig workers, it has not yet been clear how such systems could be implemented. Inspection of workplaces by Labor Department officials would now be online only. This would help the owners to give a false description of the working atmosphere in their institutions as well, he said.
Asked whether the Kerala government would frame rules to implement labor codes, Mr. Kareem said it was unlikely they would. Central unions plan to strike across the country on November 26 to protest the new codes.
Published – 22 Nov 2025 22:19 IST
