CPI M Extends Full Support to Nationwide General Strike Against Labour Codes

Madurai, April 2, 2025: The 24th Party Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI M) has passed a resolution extending full and active support to the nationwide general strike on May 20, 2025. The strike, called by a joint platform of central trade unions and independent all- India sectoral federations, opposes the implementation of the four Labour Codes by the BJP -led NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The resolution, placed before the Party Congress on April 2, condemns the so -called “labour law reforms” that have led to the repeal of 29 existing labour laws and their consolidation into four Labour Codes. CPI M claims that, this move is part of the government's neo liberal agenda, aimed at drastically curtailing the hard-won rights of the working class.

The Party asserts that these codes will negatively impact worker's working conditions, minimum wages, social security, and, most critically, their right to unionise and strike. Contrary to government claims that these reforms will simplify and universalise labour laws, the new codes actually exclude large sections of workers, including those in the organised sector, who were previously protected by labour laws.

The Code on Social Security raises concerns as it allows for the dilution of key benefits such as Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees' State Insurance (ESI). The resolution highlights that this code enables establishments to opt out of these schemes without requiring a Parliamentary amendment.

Furthermore, social security protections for workers in industries like beedi, iron ore, mica, limestone, and dolomite mining—sectors predominantly employing Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs—are now at risk. The abolition of sector-specific Acts and the removal of cess collection provisions throw the future of hundreds of thousands of workers into uncertainty.

CPI M strongly criticises the Modi government’s misuse of draconian laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to suppress workers' rights. The resolution points out that basic trade union activities such as filing complaints or submitting representations to the Labour Department are being labelled as "organised crime" under Section 111 of BNS. Trade union leaders are being imprisoned without bail for engaging in collective action.

At the same time, through the Jan Vishwas Act, the government has decriminalised 180 offences under 41 laws, removing jail terms for violations by employers and limiting punishments to fines. The last Union Budget also proposed decriminalising 100 more provisions, further weakening worker protections.

The Labour Codes and other measures introduced in the name of "Ease of Doing Busines'" are seen as direct attacks on trade unions and organized labour. The resolution points out that these changes will enable unregulated corporate exploitation, both domestic and foreign, by imposing harsh, exploitative conditions on workers.

Since the onset of neoliberal policies, attempts to amend labour laws in favor of capitalists have intensified. The Modi government initiated the codification of labour laws immediately after its 2019 re-election and passed the four Labour Codes in 2019-2020. However, due to strong resistance from the united working-class movement, the government has not yet been able to implement them. The 24th Congress of CPI(M) stands in full support of the working-class movement demanding a repeal of the Labour Codes. The Party calls upon all its committees and branches to actively support and participate in the nationwide general strike on May 20, 2025.