THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement in Rajya Sabha about the state is misleading, said Minister for General Education and Labour V Sivankutty. He accused the Union minister of trying to defame the state by highlighting isolated incidents. He said ‘nokkukooli’ has been banned in the state and that the labour department has taken strict action whenever such cases have been reported.
Sivankutty said the state has a strong stance against unfair labour practices. He pointed to Government Order 511/2018/Labour, which bans excessive wage demands and wages without work. He said the state has enforced this order strictly. He added that the state provides a better labour environment than BJP-ruled states. He said Kerala has been a model for labour welfare and has maintained strong labour-employer relations despite global efforts to weaken labour protection laws. Kerala is the first state in India to introduce and implement a labour policy, he added.
A satisfied workforce is important to the state’s development and social security. He said the state promotes a development-friendly labour culture and has become a model for sustainable growth. According to data from the Reserve Bank of India and the central government, the state offers the highest wages in the country.
Daily wages in many sectors are more than twice the national average. The state has fixed minimum wages in 85 labour sectors. Sivankutty said welfare boards have provided over Rs 9,080 crore in benefits, including pensions, to more than 70 lakh workers, including those in the unorganised sector. The government has ensured maternity benefits, safe night shifts for women, and modern workplace facilities, including in textile sector.
Sivankutty added that workers from across the country migrate to Kerala for jobs because of the better work environment. He said the state treats them as ‘guest workers’ and has taken steps to provide them with healthcare and housing. He added that labour unions in the state have rejected outdated practices like “nokkukooli.”
The minister accused Sitharaman of spreading false claims due to an anti-communist and anti-Kerala bias. He invited her to visit the state and understand its labour environment. He said industrialists have recognised Kerala as an industry-friendly state. He also accused the central government of trying to impose anti-worker labour codes, saying Nirmala was part of that.