The State will ask the Union government to withdraw the new Labour Codes, Minister for Labour V. Sivankutty has said.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday following an online meeting with representatives of trade unions to discuss the impact of the new Labour Codes on the State and how its ‘anti-worker’ provisions could be resisted, Mr. Sivankutty said the meeting passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of the Labour Codes that had been notified “without adequate discussions.”
The Minister and the trade unions which opposed the Labour Codes would meet the Union Labour Minister to discuss the matter with him and submit a memorandum.
Labour Ministers of all States and central trade union leaders would be invited to the national labour conclave to be held on December 19.
The day-long conclave, to be attended by experts in the field of law and workers’ rights, would also discuss the possibility of framing special rules for Kerala and how much could a State intervene in the issue as labour was included on the Concurrent List.
The Minister reiterated that the draft rules had been circulated to trade unions that attended a workshop organised by the Labour department on July 2, 2022, in the State capital. It had also been published on the Labour Commissionerate website.
The AITUC and the CITU had submitted their opinion on the draft rules at the workshop. The INTUC had formed a subcommittee to study the issue. The workshop decided that the government should exert pressure on the Centre to remove ‘anti-worker’ provisions in the Codes. Since the Union government did not seem inclined to accede, no action was taken on the draft rules for the past three years. The situation was unlikely to change, Mr. Sivankutty said.
The demand to withdraw the Labour Code would first be conveyed through email and then directly, he added.
Kerala’s opinion had already been conveyed to the Union government at a meeting of Labour Ministers in New Delhi earlier, he said.
The online meeting with trade unions was attended by Elamaram Karim and T.P. Ramakrishnan of CITU, R. Chandrasekharan and P.J. Joseph of INTUC, K.P. Rajendran of AITUC, Unnikrishnan of BMS, Babu Divakaran of UTUC, Rahtmatullah of STU, and Sonia George of SEWA. Labour Secretary Shanavas S. and Labour Commissioner Safna Nazarudeen were present.
The State government has opposed 15-20 provisions in the Codes, including closure of factory with only one month of notice instead of three or decriminalising of violations. More objections are expected to be raised by the trade unions.
Referring to the protests held against the Labour Code on Wednesday, the Minister criticised the move the collect the details of and issue notices to people, particularly those working in the banking sector, who took part in the agitation.
“The government will not allow any action or threats against any employee in Kerala in the name of taking part in the protest or donning a black badge,” Mr. Sivankutty said.
Published – November 27, 2025 07:05 pm IST
