Labour Codes Will Push Workers into Slavery: Dr K Hemalata
Sri Vijaya Puram, Dec. 21: The 10th Andaman & Nicobar State Conference of CITU began today (20.12.2025) at Port Blair with a massive procession of workers and Open Session at Tiranga Park.
A massive procession was taken out from Delanipur junction at 4 p.m which after making a round of important points of the town culminated in a public meeting at Tiranga Park. Hundreds of workers from various unions at Port Blair and rural South Andaman areas joined the procession, which was led by SB Chatterjee, Vice President, P. Sathyapal, S. Chinnaih, M. Yugander, Shipra Bala and Anand Rajan, Secretaries of CITU State Committee. Dr K. Hemalata, All India President of CITU hoisted the CITU flag at the Tiranga Park. Local artists presented revolutionary songs.
Inaugurating the public meeting at Tiranga Park, Dr K. Hemalata appreciated the struggles conducted by the CITU and its unions in the islands. She said that about 80 lakhs workers are working in the central and centrally sponsored schemes in the country and these workers are not even treated as workers due to which they are denied of the minimum wages. Referring to the implementation of the four new labour codes, Dr Hemalata said that this will take away whatever benefits enjoyed by the workers in the country so far. More workers will be out of the statutory benefits. She said that these labour laws were enacted only with the intention to help the corporate in the country. She warned that these labour codes will push the workers into grave exploitation and slavery by the corporates.
She said that immediately after the notification of the Labour Codes, CITU and other central trade unions burnt the copies of the Labour Codes throughout the country and she expressed happiness that A & N Islands also joined other parts of the country in burning these black laws on 26th November 2025. She demanded that the minimum wages of workers should be Rs. 26,000/ per month, a demand raised by the CITU for the last several years. She also demanded restoration of Old Pension Scheme for central government employees and said that both the NPS and UPS will be against the interests of government employees. She said that BJP and RSS are trying to divide the people on the basis of religion. She further said that RSS is being financially helped by corporates in the country.
R. Surendran Pillai, President, CITU State Committee presided over the public meeting. B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, D. Ayyappan, Vice President and SP Kalairajan, Secretary, CITU State Committee also addressed the public meeting. Pronob Banerjee, Chairman, Reception Committee welcomed the leaders and participants in the meeting while R. Rajendran, Secretary, Reception Committee proposed vote of thanks.
The Delegate Session of the State Conference will be held on 21st December, 2025 at Kerala Samajam Hall.