Thu Apr 17 14:53:36 UTC 2025: ## Visakhapatnam Trade Unions to Protest Modi Government’s Labor Codes
**VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA (April 17, 2025)** – Leaders of all-party central trade unions in Visakhapatnam have vehemently condemned the Modi government’s new Labour Codes, calling them a blatant attack on workers’ rights. A meeting held on Thursday saw representatives from various unions, including CITU, INTUC, AITUC, and others, unanimously denounce the consolidation of 29 labour laws into four codes.
The unions argue that the new codes will drastically curtail workers’ rights, potentially increasing working hours from eight to fifteen, undermining the right to form trade unions and strike, and limiting bargaining power for better wages and working conditions. They further criticized the government’s privatization efforts in sectors like railways, ports, and PSUs, claiming these actions, coupled with the Labour Codes, will effectively reduce workers to a state of servitude.
Speakers at the meeting alleged that the government is consistently prioritizing corporate interests over workers’ welfare. The lack of enforcement of labour laws in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and the privatization of PSUs were cited as examples of this alleged disregard for workers’ rights.
In response, the unions announced plans for a district-level seminar on April 27th to garner support for an All India strike on May 20th. They urged workers across all sectors – government, private, and unorganized – to participate in the strike. Further mobilization efforts will include gate meetings across various industries and residential areas.
First Piper 