UT and UT employees protest against the labor codes notified by the Central Government. Call to continue the struggle until they are repealed.

UT and UT employees protest against the labor codes notified by the Central Government. Call to continue the struggle until they are repealed.

Chandigarh 26 November ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : On the call of central trade unions, unions affiliated with the Federation of UT Employees and Workers, Chandigarh, held a massive protest today in the New Power House Industrial Area, Phase 1, Chandigarh, demanding the repeal of four labor codes notified by the Central Government. Employees from departments such as electricity, water, horticulture, electrical, UT employees, health, transport, and social welfare participated in the protest. The Pensioners' Union also participated. The protest was presided over by Rajendra Katoch, President of the Federation of UT Employees and Workers, Chandigarh, and Dhyan Singh, President of the Pensioners' Association. The forum was moderated by Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu, Office and Press Secretary of the Federation. Addressing the demonstration, Com. Subhash Lamba, President of the All India State Government Employees Federation, said that the Central Government has dealt a severe blow to the interests of workers by abolishing 29 labor laws and creating four labor codes. Upon implementation of these laws, even workers earning up to ₹18,000 will be excluded from the definition of a worker. The right to form unions will be taken away, and even the right to strike to enforce their demands will be removed. Contract labor and fixed-term employment will be promoted, and a hire-and-fire policy will be adopted. These codes, which are aimed at derecognizing trade unions, will also be abolished. Employers will have free rein to fire workers. The definition of minimum wage will also be changed. The provision of principal employer will be abolished. Instead of working 8 hours, they will be forced to work 12 hours a day. This labor code could even eliminate the provision of weekly leave. Thus, this code is a document of worker slavery, against which a united struggle is needed across the country, and a massive struggle will be necessary. Addressing the protest, All India State Government Employees Federation Secretary and Federation President Gopal Dutt Joshi, General Secretary Harkesh Chand, Vice President M. Subrahmanyam, Gurmeet Singh, Rekha Gora, Joint Secretary Harpal Singh, Bihari Lal, Kashmir Singh, Vinay Prasad, Birendra Singh, Tarun Jaiswal, Naseeb Singh, along with other Federation officials, Vipin Sher Singh, President of All Contact Employees Federation, and Dharmendra Singh Rahi, President of CTU Workers Union, said that workers are already facing hardship in both the organized and unorganized sectors. The implementation of these four labor codes will further impact them. Therefore, all organizations must unite and intensify their struggle. In this protest, a special resolution was passed demanding the regularization of all temporary employees who have completed 10 years, and the implementation of equal pay for equal work until they are confirmed. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Federation, led by President Gopal Dutt Joshi, President Rajendra Katoch, General Secretary Harkesh Chand, and Vice President Rekha Gora, met with the Chief Secretary and presented him with a memorandum of the employees' demands and appealed for their resolution.