No hasty implementation of labour codes in Karnataka, will discuss with unions: Santosh Lad

Reacting to the Central government implementing the four labour codes on Friday (November 21, 2025), Santosh Lad, Labour Minister of Karnataka, said that industries, trade unions and employers’ unions will be consulted before implementing the codes in the State.  

“In the name of ease of doing business, you cannot overlook labour issues. We will look into it and see what is going to help our people. We will discuss elaborately with the concerned parties, including industries, trade unions and employers’ unions and make decisions accordingly,” he said, speaking to The Hindu. 

‘Hurting labour’

Mr. Lad also criticised the union government of being “anti-labour.”

“Labour is getting hurt in the name of ‘ease of doing business.’ Whatever the government of India is doing is not pro-labour. Earlier, if a company of 100 employees had to shut down, they had to get our permission. Now, no company with an employee strength of less than 300 has to do it. This kind of legislation overlooks labour welfare,” he said. 

Trade unions oppose

Sathyanand, Secretary, AITUC Karnataka, termed the move “a retrograde measure that undermines the foundational welfare aspects of the existing labour laws and pushes the workers to the unorganised sector by legalizing hire and fire policies.”

“We strongly urge the state government to take into account the objections of the central trade unions while framing and finalising the rules and ensure that the welfare of the workers is protected to some degree,” he said.  

Call for protests

Following the notification, CITU Karnataka State committee called for a spontaneous protest at factory gates, taluk and district Centres on Saturday and an organised protest on November 26, Constitution Day, at all district centres.

“Notification of these codes is nothing but a declaration of war on the working people amidst the growing unemployment crisis and rising inflation. The Central government, in collusion with its capitalist allies, is trying to take the country into an era of exploitation,” said a statement from CITU, Karnataka.