Tue May 20 13:24:43 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text, formatted for “The Hindu”:

**Headline: Trade Unions Protest “Anti-Labor” Policies Across Southern Tamil Nadu and Beyond**

**TIRUNELVELI, May 20, 2025** – Members of various trade unions staged widespread demonstrations across Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari districts today, condemning what they termed the Centre’s “anti-laborer policies” and demanding significant improvements to worker rights and compensation. The protests, held in locations including Vannarpettai, Veeravanallur, and other key areas, saw union members voicing concerns over privatization, wage stagnation, and rising living costs.

Key demands from the protesters included:

* **Revival of the Old Pension Scheme:** Unions are pushing for a return to the previous pension system for workers.
* **Minimum Monthly Wage:** A minimum monthly wage of ₹26,000 for unorganized and contract workers.
* **Social Security:** Extension of social security schemes to unorganized sector workers and farmhands, along with a minimum monthly pension of ₹9,000.
* **Curbing Privatization:** An immediate halt to the privatization of public sector undertakings through stake sales and the monetization of national assets.
* **Price Controls:** Effective measures to control the soaring prices of essential commodities, which protesters say are disproportionately impacting workers whose wages have remained stagnant.
* **Fair Prices for Farmers:** Guaranteed selling prices for farmers, with the minimum support price set at 50% above production costs.
* **GST Relief:** Waiver of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on food grains, medicines, agro inputs, farm implements, and fuel.
* **MGNREGA Enhancements:** An increase in wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to ₹600 a day, with 200 guaranteed working days per year.
* **Housing for the Poor:** Provision of government land to landless poor families to ensure housing for every citizen.

The unions also expressed opposition to the introduction of “smart meters” and prepaid power tariffs. They urged the Union Government to adhere to International Labour Organisation (ILO) norms to protect the welfare of the working class. Protesters criticized the Centre’s enactment of “anti-workers laws” they feel deny even the most basic rights to laborers. The demonstrations highlight growing discontent among workers in Southern India regarding economic policies and their impact on livelihoods.

**Explanation of Changes and Summarization:**

* **Concise Headline:** Capture the essence of the article.
* **Lead Paragraph:** Immediately establishes the “who, what, where, when” of the story.
* **Key Demands Bulleted:** Easier to digest the important points.
* **Removed Redundancy:** Eliminated repetitive phrasing.
* **Emphasis on Impact:** Highlighted the potential impact of the policies on workers and farmers.
* **Attribution:** Clearly attributes the statements and demands to the protesting trade unions.
* **Overall Tone:** Maintains a neutral, informative tone suitable for a news article.

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