Minister-led delegation to demand repeal of the Labour Codes; conclave planned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A decision was taken in an online meeting held by Minister V. Sivankutty with representatives of labour organisations to request the Centre to withdraw the unilaterally implemented labour code.

Minister V Sivankutty said that he will personally meet the Union Minister and request him to withdraw the unilaterally implemented labour codes.

For this, a delegation led by the Minister, including representatives of labour organisations, will go to Delhi.

It was also agreed to cancel the decision to increase the registration fee of trade union organisations from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10,000 as part of the labour code.

Union leaders pointed out that the state law can be changed since labour is included in the concurrent list.

A labour conclave will be organised on December 19 with the participation of experts related to the labour sector and labour ministers of other states. A letter will be submitted to the Union Minister apprising him of the ideas involved in it. The meeting passed a resolution against anti-labour labour codes.

Elamaram Kareem, T.P. Ramakrishnan (CITU), R. Chandrasekharan, V. J. Joseph (INTUC), K.P. Rajendran (AITU), V. Radhakrishnan (BMS), Babu Divakaran (UTUC), Tommy Mathew (HMS), Sonia George (Seva Union), Rahmatullah (STU), Special Secretary of the Department of Labour Shanavas, Labour Commissioner Safna Nasaruddin and others attended the meeting representing various organisations.

The conclave will discuss in detail what pro-worker stances the state government can take on the labour codes.