During a spirited May Day demonstration in Srikakulam, leaders from the Left parties and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) issued a stern ultimatum to the government. At the heart of their demands is the immediate withdrawal of the controversial new Labour Codes and a significant hike in the floor for worker compensation.
Decade-Long Stagnation in Local Wages
Speaking at the rally, CITU State Secretary P. Tejeswara Rao highlighted a grim economic reality for the region’s workforce. According to Rao, the minimum wage structure has remained stagnant for over 15 years, despite the skyrocketing cost of living and inflation. He pointed out the growing disparity between corporate profits and the stagnant earnings of the laborers who generate them.
The labor leader emphasized that the lack of revision in pay scales has pushed many families into a cycle of poverty. “It is a systemic failure when the legal minimum wage has not been updated in a decade and a half,” Rao stated, calling for an immediate intervention to set the minimum monthly salary at ₹26,000 to ensure a dignified life for all workers.
Resistance Against the Four Labour Codes
A major focal point of the rally was the opposition to the Union Government’s four new Labour Codes. Labor advocates argue that these codes consolidate existing laws in a way that significantly weakens the bargaining power of employees while favoring employers.
Rao and other speakers expressed deep concern over the erosion of the traditional eight-hour workday. They alleged that in many industrial sectors, workers are currently being coerced into 12-hour shifts without receiving adequate overtime compensation or social security benefits. The Left parties categorized these changes as a move back toward “primitive labor conditions” that prioritize factory output over human welfare.
Call for Collective Action
The May Day celebrations served as a platform to remind the public of the historical struggles for the eight-hour workday. Leaders urged the working class to remain united against policies they view as “pro-corporate.” The rally concluded with a pledge to intensify protests across Andhra Pradesh if the government fails to address the wage gap and the demands for legal labor protections.
