The CTUs argue that the policy sidelines trade unions and a mutual consultative process, and thus runs counter to Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to organise, and collective bargaining.
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The Central Trade Unions (CTUs) of the country, except the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), rejected the ‘Shram Shakti Niti 2025’, the draft labour policy of the Union government.
In a tripartite meeting chaired by Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya here on Thursday, 10 CTUs and various federations said in a joint response that the new labour policy appeared to be less a roadmap for worker empowerment, and more an ideological project to redefine labour, not as a right but as a “sacred duty.” The employers’ organisations said they would submit their written suggestions to the Union government.
The BMS’s representative said it approved of the draft policy.
“Though the policy claims to uphold dignity, equality, and inclusion, its framework moves towards centralisation of authority, erosion of State powers, and moralisation of labour instead of recognising workers’ rights. Its stated mission does not address the ground realities faced by the toiling masses. By invoking ancient caste-based hierarchies as moral precedents and by rebranding unimplemented labour codes as a new vision, the policy plans to turn back the clock on more than a century of workers’ struggles for justice, fair wages, and social protection,” the 10 CTUs said, urging the Centre to immediately convene the Indian Labour Conference to discuss the policy.
Labour is in the concurrent list of the Constitution, but the draft policy reduces the authority of State governments, and positions States as implementing agencies of Centrally designed policies, the CTUs said. “The State government should also be responsible for framing, monitoring, implementing, accountability, and budgetary allocation for the same,” they said.
The CTUs argue that the policy sidelines trade unions and a mutual consultative process, and thus runs counter to Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to organise, and collective bargaining. The policy document should comply with all the International Labour Standards, and all the Sustainable Development Goals for inclusion and ethical governance, they said.
By proposing to integrate all social security mechanisms, the policy may in effect be moving toward a framework that eliminates employer contributions even in organised industries. The “new policy” is a repackaged push for enforcing the same unimplemented four Labour Codes, the CTUs alleged.
Mr. Mandaviya is learnt to have told the meeting that the government was willing to make changes to the draft, including the references to Manusmriti, Yajnavalkyasmriti, Sukra Niti, and Arthashastra. The CTUs said these texts prescribe the opposite of justice or equality for workers. “If such texts form the ideological foundation of Shram Shakti Niti 2025, it raises grave concerns about the direction of India’s labour policy,” the CTUs said.
The collective aim was to collaborate effectively to create the best possible vision document for an equitable and resilient world of work, Mr. Mandaviya said. The draft policy was open to modifications based on inputs from stakeholders, he said. “The policy would be finalised only after incorporating suitable improvements suggested over several rounds of consultation, as necessary,” the Minister said.
Published – November 13, 2025 10:21 pm IST
