Srinagar, Dec 27 (KNO): The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday held a peaceful protest at Sher-i-Kashmir Park here, denouncing the four new labour codes introduced by the Centre as “anti-worker” and “pro-corporate”.
Addressing the gathering, CITU J&K Secretary Abdul Rashid Pandit, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that 29 existing labour laws have been merged into four codes, which he alleged have weakened workers’ rights and tilted the balance in favour of corporate interests.
“The new codes dilute hard-earned safeguards related to job security, wages, and social protection achieved after decades of struggle,” Pandit said. He urged the government to immediately withdraw the laws.
Another CITU leader, Abdul Rashid Najjar, said the new labour regime has curtailed collective bargaining, eased hiring and firing, and undermined trade union rights. “These codes were framed without proper consultation with workers’ representatives and are designed to promote informalisation and contract labour,” he said.
Haneefa Mir, a Union member, said, “The government must ensure implementation of minimum wages for all categories of workers and extend social security coverage to the unorganised sector, including scheme workers and construction labourers.”
Several other trade union representatives and activists from construction, horticulture, handicrafts, municipal and transport sectors also participated in the protest, expressing solidarity with the ongoing nationwide struggle against the new labour framework—(KNO)