The scope for even fighting against anti-labour policies and laws will vanish if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government returns to power again, according to Amarjeet Kaur, national general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
“It is now a question of do or die for trade unions in the country. We are very clear that if this regime comes back to power, then there will be no scope even to fight back. Trade unions think that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are very crucial,” she told The Hindu on the sidelines of the State conference of the AITUC here on Wednesday.
On the challenges faced by trade unions under the NDA regime, Ms. Kaur said the rights of labourers remained under threat. “The Modi government is determined to take away our basic rights of agitation, unionisation, and going on strike. His labour code agenda is actually aimed at diluting and finishing some of the laws,” she alleged.
Ms. Kaur pointed out that the Centre had not been able to succeed in implementing labour codes. “Many States have not yet formulated the rules. We have put pressure on State governments by telling them that the working class will turn against you, if you tried to notify it,” she said.
The AITUC leader said trade unions were waging a political battle. “You cannot keep begging before Mr. Modi to protect public assets. He does not believe in the public sector as he believes that the government has no role to play in it. So it is a clear-cut political battle, and that is why we have come forward with the slogan – BJP hatao, Desh bachao (Remove BJP from power, save the nation),” she said.
