New Delhi, May 11: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) denounced the operationalisation of Labour Codes by the Union Government, through the notification of Central Rules for the same, on May 8, 2026.
A statement issued by the party said though the BJP-led Union Government had wished to operationalise the Labour Codes from April 1, 2026 itself, it deceptively waited till the Assembly elections in four States and a Union Territory were over to notify the rules. Within just four days after the announcement of results, they have now operationalised the Labour Codes. This exposes the deceptive modus operandi of the BJP-led Union Government.
It said the BJP-led governments in the states are eager to implement the Labour Codes and have prepared the state draft rules. It is only the outgoing CPI(M) led LDF government in Kerala which had denounced the implementation of Labour Codes, held a National Labour Conclave and constituted an expert committee under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice V. Gopala Gowda, to recommend alternative measures. The LDF government had received the report and agreed to adopt the recommendations. Due to the Model Code of Conduct, it could not implement the recommendations.
It also said the expert committee has recommended the state governments to bring in amendments to protect the interests of workers. It had opined that the State Legislatures are empowered to bring in state amendments as the labour issues are enumerated as Nos. 22, 23 & 24 in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
The CPI(M) urged the state governments to exercise their legislative powers under the Constitution of India, bring in amendments to the Labour Codes, and protect the interests of the workers instead of operationalising them as per the Central Rules that have been notified.
