Hyderabad: Hyderabad District Congress Committee president Syed Khalid Saifullah today demanded repeal of labour codes and restoration of key worker protections while addressing a public meeting at Dharna Chowk after the Bharat Bandh rally.
The bandh followed a call by a joint platform of ten central trade unions and farmers’ organisations. The rally began at the VST Union Office in Baghlingampally and passed through Musheerabad before concluding at Indira Park. Thereafter, leaders addressed a public meeting.
TPCC President B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Yadav and Khairtabad DCC leader Motha Rohit Mudiraj attended the programme. They expressed support for the repeal of labour codes and criticised recent labour reforms.
Khalid Saifullah said the four Labour Codes replaced 29 existing labour laws without adequate consultation. He referred to the Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Code on Social Security and Occupational Safety Code. According to him, the changes altered the balance between workers, employers and the state.
He stated that earlier firms employing 100 or more workers required government approval for retrenchment. However, the new framework raised the threshold to 300 workers. As a result, he argued that many workers in mid-sized firms lost retrenchment protection. Similarly, the standing orders requirement increased from 100 to 300 workers.
Congress reiterates repeal of labour codes demand
Referring to strike provisions, Khalid Saifullah said earlier notice was mandatory only in public utility services. Now, a 60-day notice applies across sectors. In addition, strikes are barred during conciliation proceedings. Therefore, he claimed the provisions curtailed organised labour’s bargaining power.
He also criticised the expansion of fixed-term employment across industries. According to him, permanent jobs are increasingly replaced with short-term contracts, which heighten job insecurity.
Highlighting worker and farmer participation in the bandh, he said nearly 90 per cent of India’s workforce already works in the informal sector. Consequently, he argued that weakening safeguards in the formal sector would deepen informalisation.
Khalid Saifullah further questioned claims that labour flexibility leads to higher job creation. He said formal job growth has not accelerated and real wages for lower-income groups remain stagnant.
He reiterated the demand for repeal of labour codes or substantial amendments. Additionally, he sought restoration of the 100-worker retrenchment threshold and universal social security for informal and gig workers. He also called for tripartite consultation before implementing labour reforms and legislative backing for minimum support price for farmers.
