Govt gets support from 16 Central trade unions on labour codes – The HinduBusinessLine

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The move comes a week before the opposition parties affiliated trade unions meet on December 22 to decide a date for holding country-wide protests against four Labour Codes implementation

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the labour codes ensure equal rights and opportunities for women | Photo Credit: ANI

Sixteen Central trade unions on Monday came together at the Labour & Employment Summit – 2025, resolving to counter what they described as “misinformation” around the new Labour Codes and to carry their intended benefits to workers at the grassroots, according to a statement issued by the Confederation of Central Trade Unions (CONCENT).

The development comes ahead of a December 22 meeting of trade unions, affiliated with opposition parties, to decide on a date for a nationwide protest against the four Labour Codes, which were notified on November 21.

The summit was inaugurated by Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya, who said workers’ welfare has remained central to the government’s policy framework under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Incorporate workers’ concerns

Mandaviya underscored the need for effective implementation of the Labour Codes to prioritise workers’ interests, and highlighted the extensive consultations held with trade unions during their drafting. These deliberations, he said, were aimed at incorporating workers’ concerns into the final provisions, the Ministry of Labour and Employment noted in a statement.

“The Labour Codes guarantee minimum wages to all workers, mandate appointment letters, and extend social security coverage to more than 40 crore workers. They also ensure equal rights and opportunities for women, and safeguard employees from any curtailment of their rights by employers,” the Minister said.

Emphasising that the codes would create an enabling ecosystem to protect workers’ interests, Mandaviya urged trade unions to continue offering feedback and to play an active role in sensitising workers about the transformative potential of the reforms.

Among the 16 Central trade unions that expressed support for the government’s move were the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), NFITU, TUCC, HMKP, BRMGSU, NLO-INTUC, FFR, AIBEU, NFFWESCI, HMKU, KLU and FSUI.

The summit opened with remarks by Dr Deepak Jaiswal, President of NFITU and Convener of CONCENT. Other dignitaries present included BMS President Hiranmay Pandya, BMS General Secretary Ravindra Hemte, SCOPE Director General Atul Sobti, LNCT University Chancellor Jainarayan Chouksey, ASSOCHAM representative Manoj Sharma, and TUCC General Secretary S P Tiwari.

Published on December 16, 2025