HYDERABAD: CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby on Monday urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to resist the implementation of the Labour Codes, as has been done by some states, and to safeguard workers’ interests. He expressed disappointment that even the Congress-led Karnataka government had begun moving towards implementing the codes, and called on progressive and secular forces to take a clear stand against them.
Addressing the media along with CPI(M) state secretary John Wesley and Politburo member BV Raghavulu, MA Baby said the four Labour Codes introduced by the Union government were anti-worker and sought to dilute hard-won rights related to job security, collective bargaining, minimum wages and social security. He said their implementation would increase insecurity among workers, weaken trade unions and tilt the balance in favour of corporates.
The CPI(M) leader also referred to what he described as the weakening of key welfare legislations such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He alleged that the Union government was “systematically undermining” the scheme through inadequate budgetary allocations, delayed wage payments and dilution of statutory guarantees. The assurance of 100 days of employment, he said, was being reduced to a formality.
Flagging concerns over proposed electricity reforms, MA Baby said the changes could lead to higher tariffs, withdrawal of subsidies and a heavier burden on farmers, domestic consumers and small businesses. He said greater reliance on market forces would limit the ability of States to protect vulnerable sections.
On the wider economic front, he criticised what he termed the erosion of India’s economic and foreign policy autonomy under pressure from global markets and powerful countries.
He said the CPI(M) had decided to intensify struggles across the country, including mass campaigns and mobilisations involving workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and other sections. As part of this programme, nationwide initiatives and state-level agitations would be organised in the coming weeks, with a major mobilisation planned in March.