Trade unions in India stage nationwide protests against new labor codes

Описание: (26 Nov 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Delhi - 26 November 2025
1. Various of labor union members showing slogans, holding a banner during a protest chanting UPSOUND (Hindi): "Long live the revolution," and "workers of the world unite," also "Struggle in the face of every oppression is our slogan."
2. Mid of another participant shouting slogans UPSOUND (Hindi): "Raise fist and speak loudly," and "we will change history"
3. Various of protesters shouting slogans
4. Various of Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary, Indian National Trade Union Congress, addressing protesters
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Amarjeet Kaur, Indian National Trade Union Congress General Secretary:
"(On) 21st November the government came out with the four labor codes, its notification. So naturally anguish is much more and in a much bigger way. All over India, almost more than 500 districts, this protest is being observed today.”
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Krishna Kant, protester:
'"Demands are not to demolish the present labor law or labor code, which is absolutely anti-working class, but to meet people, tell them that only demanding this, remove this labor law is not solution. We must remove the basic political economic situation system today, which is allowing this capitalist class to plunder us, loot us, destroy environment, destroy the working class. And that has to be only through proletarian revolution."
7. Various of protest
STORYLINE:
A coalition of 10 major Indian trade unions mounted nationwide protests on Wednesday against the government’s rollout of new labor codes, saying the sweeping changes were “deceptive fraud” against workers.

Demonstrations were held in several parts of India as unions representing millions of laborers and farmers accused the government of pushing through the overhaul despite widespread concerns that the new framework erodes job security, weakens collective bargaining and heightens employer control.

It is the first coordinated labor action since the codes took effect last week, underscoring deep tensions between unions and the government over direction of economic reforms.

Indian officials said the new framework will modernize outdated laws, improve efficiency and expand social protections. Unions argued it would strip essential safeguards and favor employers at a time of rising job insecurity.

The four codes cover wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety. They replace 29 archaic labor laws that governed hiring, benefits and workplace standards across India’s formal and informal sectors.

The government while notifying the codes said the consolidated structure simplifies compliance, reduces fragmentation and gives workers better access to social security, provident fund contributions and safety norms.

The codes make it compulsory for employers to issue appointment letters and fixes a timeframe for payment of salaries. It also allows women to work night shifts with security arrangements by employers.

AP video shot by Rishi Lekhi


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