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27 November, 2025India’s trade unions (CTUs) and independent sectoral federations, including IndustriALL affiliates, staged nationwide protests after the government of India unilaterally notified the four labour codes without any consultation with workers’ organizations. The abrupt notifications issued on 21 November 2025 drew strong condemnation from working people in India, who described the move as an attack on the rule of law.
On 26 November, Indian trade unions across the country, except the government-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, mobilized in powerful protests denouncing the unilateral labour-code notification, demanding immediate genuine dialogue and withdrawal, declaring that working people will not accept labour-law reforms imposed without consultation.
The joint CTUs condemn this government action as these labour codes violate fundamental constitutional rights and undermine the principles of democracy and federalism. They argued that the codes are structurally flawed, legally unsound and designed to dilute workers’ protections.
The joint CTUs criticized the government for bypassing established tripartite mechanisms and pointed out that the Indian Labour Conference, the country’s apex tripartite forum, has not been convened since 2015.
IndustriALL affiliates have raised strong concerns that India’s new labour codes weaken key worker protections, particularly on working hours, contract labour and occupational safety and health (OSH). Union representatives warned that the changes are likely to increase precarious work and further erode workers’ rights at a time when stronger safeguards are needed. In response, IndustriALL has written to the government, urging it to withdraw the codes and open meaningful dialogue with trade unions to ensure to uphold workers’ rights and safety standards.
Union leaders called on the government to halt implementation of the codes and initiate transparent, inclusive consultations with trade unions. IndustriALL Global Union expressed full solidarity with Indian workers and affiliates, supporting their demands for social dialogue, freedom of association and the protection of fundamental labour rights.
Sanjay Vadhavkar, general secretary of SMEFI (HMS) said:
“The government’s unilateral notification of the labour codes is a direct attack on workers’ rights and on democratic labour governance. Workers cannot be excluded from decisions that shape their lives. By bypassing consultation and long-standing tripartite practices, the government has undermined constitutional values. We stand firmly with the united trade union movement in demanding the withdrawal of these notifications and the restoration of genuine social dialogue.”
Sanjay Singh, general secretary of INEWF (INTUC) said:
“These labour codes weaken essential protections, especially on freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, limits on working hours, occupational safety and health and social security—and will push more workers into precarious conditions. We urge the government to halt their implementation and engage with trade unions to ensure that any reforms safeguard, not erode, workers’ rights.”
IndustriALL general secretary, Atle Høie, said:
“We continue our full solidarity to the Indian trade union movement and call upon the Government of India to engage with trade unions through transparent and inclusive consultations. We firmly reiterate that any reform of labour laws must strengthen, not weaken, workers’ protections and must fully comply with international labour standards.”