Protesters raise concerns over rising prices of essential commodities, unemployment and widening inequality
NEW DELHI — Central trade unions, sectoral federations and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday organised massive nationwide protests across more than 500 districts, demanding the withdrawal of the four Labour Codes and the Centre’s “anti-farmer policies”.
Demonstrations were held in government and public sector units, industrial belts, rural regions, and even at block and subdivision levels, drawing participation from informal workers, agricultural labourers, farmers, students and youth.
The joint platform said workers and farmers are increasingly uniting in defence of their rights, recalling the momentum built during the 9 July 2025 general strike. Protesters raised concerns over rising prices of essential commodities, unemployment, widening inequality and what they described as growing distress among casual labourers and jobless youth.
The groups criticised the government for notifying the four Labour Codes on 21 November without consultation, accusing it of violating international labour standards and avoiding the Indian Labour Conference for a decade. The unions said the Codes dilute decades of labour protections by restricting the right to strike, making union registration harder, easing de-recognition, weakening conciliation mechanisms, and replacing labour courts with tribunals.
They also objected to changes that raise thresholds for the applicability of safety and industrial laws—moves they say push a large share of industries and workers outside legal protection. Fixed-term employment, expansion of contract work, unlimited apprenticeships without absorption, and the decriminalisation of employer violations were cited as further threats to job security.
The organisations also criticised the government’s employment claims and said social security schemes are being weakened. They demanded immediate recruitment to sanctioned posts, job creation across sectors, expansion of MGNREGA with an urban counterpart, and an end to appointing retirees or trainees in core positions.
The joint statement accused the ruling dispensation of using polarisation and communal politics to divert attention from livelihood issues, calling on people to defend constitutional values and public resources.
In Delhi, unions and farmer organisations also staged a protest at the iconic Jantar Mantar. The groups condemned an alleged attack by BJP supporters on a workers–farmers demonstration in Dharmanagar, North Tripura, injuring several activists. They demanded action from Chief Minister Manik Saha.
Congratulating lakhs of participants for the show of strength, the Central Trade Unions and SKM warned the Narendra Modi government that continued inaction on workers’ and farmers’ demands would trigger even larger nationwide agitations in the coming months.
