Webinar on new Labour Codes Special Lecture by Dr. Prof. Diwakar Babu

As scheduled and informed, our Webinar on new Labour Codes was held
today evening through Zoom. The programme was also webcasted live
through our AIBEA’s YouTube channel. Besides our office bearers and CC
Members, about 800 comrades from all our Unions from various States
participated in the programme. Special lecture was delivered by Dr. Prof.
Diwakar Babu, MA, ML, PhD. Principal Sidhartha Law College, Vijayawada.
Com. Rajen Nagar presided over the programme along with Com P R
Mehta, Com. N Shankar and Com. Partha Chanda, our Vice presidents.
Com. B S Rambabu, Secretary, welcomed the Chief Guest Prof. Diwakar
Babu and all the participants.
Prof. Diwakar Babu, during his 80 minutes lecture, explained in a very lucid
manner the various provisions of the new labour codes. He recalled the
evolution of industrial jurisprudence in our country in the last more than 70
years due to the struggles of the working class and trade unions. He
pointed out that capital has never yielded any concession or right unless
and until the labour fought for the same.
He narrated how the capitalists and employers realised that workers have
started to fight for their rights due to which reason labour laws came in
one by one through courts and through legislations and hence it is very
important to remember that none of the present labour rights came from
any vacuum.
He explained the broad provisions of the 4 Labour Codes i.e., Code on
Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Code on Social Security and Code on
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions which have replaced
the existing 29 labour legislations.
He pointed out that instead of ensuring a fair minimum wage for the
workers, the Code on Wages talks of Floor Level wage which has been kept
at Rs. 173 per day and which is very very low and unfair. He further
pointed out that in order to hire cheap labour, the various local
governments and employers will be tempted to keep this paltry wage per
day and thus exploit the workers.
He cautioned that the new labour code will enable the employers to
increase the working hours.
He also emphasised that in the present scenario where despite inspections
and interventions of the Government, employers are violating the various
labour laws, removing inspection and replacing it by facilitators and
advisors will only add to the plight of the workers. Non-compliance and
violations will become the order of the day.
He explained that all these concessions to the employers are being given in
the name of ‘Ease of doing business’
. Under this plea, freedom is being
given to the employers to exploit the workers.
When profit is the result of capital + labour, to favour only capital and
depriving labour is an unfair proposition, he pointed out.
He spoke on the various retrograde provisions of the Industrial Relation
Code which virtually restricts the formation of trade unions and takes away
the right of the trade unions to go on strike.
When employers have the right to Lay off, Retrench, Closure and Lock-out,
workers should have the corresponding right to go on strike and withdraw
their labour as part of their right to collective bargaining. He pointed out
how the new Code is totally one-sided in favour of the employers and
factory owners.
Further, by changing the definition of coverage from 100 to 300 workers,
overwhelming majority of the factories and industrial units will be kept out
of the cover of any labour laws.
He quipped that the Government is claiming to extend equal rights to
women workers but in reality, women workers will be exposed to further
vulnerabilities at the hands of the employers.
He explained how the Fixed Term Employment model is antithetical to job
security which is so paramount for any worker.
He concluded by saying that the hard-won rights of the working class are
sought to be weakened and diluted by these new labour codes and hence it
is important for all sections of workers and employees to unite and repulse
these anti-worker labour codes.
His lecture was highly educative and informative and reminded us of our
role to oppose the imposition of these new Labour Codes.