Farmer, worker unions stage protest in Vijayawada against Labour Codes

Farmer, worker and people’s organisations have demanded that the Centre immediately withdraw the new Labour Codes, alleging that they severely undermine labour rights and democracy. Trade union and farmers’ bodies organised a protest rally here on Wednesday (November 26), under the banner of farmers’ unions, tenant farmer groups, labour unions and civil society organisations.

Speaking at the public meeting, Joint Kisan Morcha State Convener Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao said the BJP-led Union government is trampling democracy and promoting authoritarian policies, serving corporate interests at the cost of workers. He accused the Centre of introducing labour codes to suppress workers’ rights and urged people across the country to unite to protect the constitutional rights of farmers and workers.

CPI State secretary G. Eswaraiah alleged that both the Modi government at the Centre and the coalition government in the State were working against workers’ welfare and acting in favour of corporates.

CITU Andhra Pradesh State secretary Ch. Narsinga Rao said the labour codes replace 29 hard-earned labour laws achieved over a century through workers’ struggles and criticised the Centre for issuing a notification despite several States, including Kerala, refusing to implement them. The new rules promote fixed-term employment, eliminate job security, weaken labour inspections and legalise unsafe working conditions, he said and criticised the State government for extending working hours and allowing night shifts for women, which he said exposes them to exploitation.

Speakers condemned the Modi and Chandrababu Naidu governments for pursuing anti-worker and anti-people policies, and called for united nationwide movements to defeat the labour codes. AIUTUC State secretary Venkatasubbayya warned that the changes would push workers into extreme insecurity and described night shifts for women as dangerous. Farmer leaders, including Y. Keshava Rao, said the government is also crushing farmer rights through changes to seed, market and cooperative laws, denying fair prices.