India trade unions condemn new labour codes, plan nationwide protests

Ten large Indian trade unions condemned the government's rollout on Friday of new labour codes, the biggest such overhaul in decades, as a "deceptive fraud" against workers.



The unions, aligned with parties opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanded in a statement late on Friday that the laws be withdrawn ahead of nationwide protests they plan to hold on Wednesday.



Modi's government implemented the four labour codes, approved by parliament five years ago, as it seeks to simplify work rules, some dating to British colonial rule, and liberalise conditions for investment. It says the changes improve worker protections.



While the new rules offer social security and minimum-wage benefits, they also allow companies to hire and fire workers more easily.



Unions have strongly opposed the changes, organising multiple nationwide protests over the past five years.



The Labour Ministry did not immediately respond on Saturday to a Reuters request for comment on the union demands. The government has held over a dozen consultations with unions since June 2024, an internal ministry document on the labour codes shows.