The central trade unions on Thursday sought repealing of all the four Labour Codes and more steps for job creation during the pre-budget consultation meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The trade unions submitted a joint memorandum to the finance minister raising concerns over the labour codes, unemployment and various other issues.
The trade unions demanded that the 29 statutes, which were repealed to enact labour codes, should be restored. The efforts to legitimise the provisions of the labour code through Shram Shakti Niti 2025 must be stopped immediately. The government has enacted four labour codes namely, the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
The purpose of these codes
These codes aim to simplify and consolidate 29 existing labour laws into four consolidated codes to improve worker protection and simplify compliance for businesses. These are yet to be implemented as the relevant rules are to be notified by several states.
The unions also demanded minimum wages of not less than Rs 26,000 per month with indexation being fixed in line with consensus recommendation of Indian Labour Conference in which the government is a party.
For the job creation, the trade unions urged the government to fill existing vacancies in the central government departments and public sector unions. The trade unions asked the government to stop ongoing practice of contract and outsourcing of permanent/perennial jobs in any establishment and asked for ensuring regular employment.
Other requests
The trade unions also sought extension of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to urban areas and also demanded increased allocation for rural employment scheme to ensure 200 days work with statutory minimum wages.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India United Trade Union Centre and All India Central Council of Trade Unions, along with other unions.
The finance minister chaired the 10th pre-budget meeting with the representatives of trade unions and labour organisations in connection with the Union Budget 2026-27.