Convention passes resolution against labour codes, contract labour

Bengaluru: Scores of non-permanent government workers and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) workers have urged the union government to repeal the ‘anti-workers’ labour codes and system of contract bonded labour.

Addressing a convention against Labour Codes and Demand for the End of the Exploitative Contract Labour System recently, Clifton D’ Rozario, vice-president of All India Central Council of Trade Unions said: “Lakhs of workers who are, in fact, permanent workers are being falsely termed as contract workers and subjected to severe exploitation. Despite performing core and perennial tasks, they suffer from job insecurity, poor wages, and lack of social security. The new Labour Codes only make matters worse, by institutionalizing this exploitation.”

Stating that group C and D jobs are outsourced in must union government offices, hospitals, and departments even though Group A and B positions remain permanent, Clifton dubbed it a “fraud.”

Vijayakumar, general secretary of HAL Contract Workers’ Association, said: “We now have no choice but to come together and fight this exploitative system.”

The convention passed a resolution demanding that the Centre repeal ‘anti-worker’ labour codes.