Trade unions protest new labour codes in India

Trade unions are protesting new labour codes set to be implemented on April 1, 2025. These codes, passed in 2019 and 2020, aim to consolidate workers' rights but lack tripartite consultation, ignoring the needs of unorganised workers, who make up over 90% of India's workforce. The Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code does not address health hazards for unorganised workers and repeals previous safety regulations for construction workers. The new codes also threaten existing welfare boards and do not ensure funding for informal workers' welfare schemes. Labour organizations are calling for separate legislation for unorganised workers and specific protections for various sectors. They urge the Tamil Nadu government to act quickly to amend the central codes and protect state-level welfare mechanisms before the new regulations take effect.