Team Herald
PONDA: Nilkant Fadte, General Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) in Goa, criticised the Central government's four new labour codes, claiming they will lead to suffering, exploitation, and the subjugation of the labour class while favouring the corporate sector and capitalists. Fadte stated that the implementation of these codes will scrap 44 existing labour laws that were established after significant efforts by labour union movements, leaving workers without any legal protection to fight against industry owners and employers.
Fadte emphasised that these four labour codes will erode the rights of workers and act as a tool for exploitation, adding that the old 44 laws were crucial for protecting workers' rights. CITU, along with other labour unions, plans to stage protests across the country, including at Azad Maidan in Goa on Monday, to oppose these "anti-labour" policies.
He further accused the Goa government of neglecting workers by delaying the minimum wage revision, which was due in 2016, and offering only a Rs 100 hike after an eight-year delay. Fadte criticised the increase in working hours from eight to 12 hours and demanded that the minimum wage be set at Rs 26,000 per month to ensure the survival of labourers.
Fadte also called attention to pension issues, stating that the current Rs 3,000 per month pension is insufficient, and demanded that it be raised to Rs10,000. He urged the government to give priority to retrenched mining workers in Goa once mining operations restart, particularly in companies like Fomento at Dharbandora, following the auction of mining leases.