Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 24 September 2024
In response to a nationwide call by the joint platform of central trade unions, workers across the country observed 23rd September 2024, as ‘Black Day,’ demanding the immediate withdrawal of four Labour Codes passed by the Parliament in 2019 and 2020. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has argued that these codes are harmful to workers’ rights and protections.
In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, unions affiliated with CITU organised mass dharnas, demonstrations, and public meetings across various locations. The main event took place at Tiranga Park in Port Blair, where hundreds of workers participated in a mass sit-in and public gathering.
R. Surendran Pillai, President of the CITU State Committee, presided over the meeting, emphasizing that the central government is pushing forward with the Labour Codes despite widespread opposition from the united trade unions. He condemned the government’s stance, stating, “The government is continuing its agenda despite the strong opposition from central trade unions.”
Addressing the gathering, CITU General Secretary, B. Chandrachoodan, provided an overview of the Labour Codes, explaining how 29 existing labour laws have been merged into four codes. According to him, this merger aims to weaken crucial worker protections related to wages, social security, health, safety, and welfare benefits. He added that the Labour Codes were hastily passed in Parliament during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when the government had a majority, but are now being imposed despite the loss of support in the Lok Sabha.
D. Ayyappan, Vice President of the CITU Andaman & Nicobar State Committee, was also vocal in his criticism of the central government, accusing it of dismantling the old labour laws to benefit corporate giants aligned with the current ruling class. “The government is repealing beneficial labour laws to facilitate the exploitation of workers by the corporate giants, who are all friends of Narendra Modi and the ruling party,” Ayyappan said. He also expressed disappointment that the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) in the islands did not join the protests and criticised the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) for supporting the central government on the issue.
Local issues affecting the working class and the general public in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands were also raised during the protest.
Other key speakers at the Port Blair event included SP Kalairajan and Anand Rajan, Secretaries of the CITU State Committee. Prominent leaders such as BC Bhattacharjee, Vice President; Shyamal Koley, Treasurer; and M. Yugander, Secretary, were also present.
In Diglipur, the CITU Zonal Committee organized a procession through Diglipur Bazaar, led by Sunil Bepari, President, and Barun Biswas, Secretary of the Zonal Committee, furthering the protests across the region.
The ‘Black Day’ protest was marked by widespread participation from trade unions and workers across the country, as they demanded the rollback of the Labour Codes they believe undermine the rights of the working class.