JOINT PLATFORM OF TRADE UNIONS CALLS FOR COMBATIVE RESISTANCE & DEFIANCE ON 26TH NOVEMBER
Press release of Joint Platform of 10 Central Trade Unions
Press Release
The following joint statement was released today, 21st November 2025 as preliminary reaction from the joint platform of 10 Central Trade Unions:
LABOUR CODES NOTIFICATION –
A DECEPTIVE FRAUD ON THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THE NATION!
JOINT PLATFORM OF TRADE UNIONS CALLS FOR COMBATIVE RESISTANCE & DEFIANCE ON 26TH NOVEMBER
The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, express strong condemnation against the blatantly unilateral implementation of anti-worker, pro employer labour codes from today. In unequivocal terms we call it the Union Govt’s deceptive fraud committed against the working people of the nation.
This arbitrary and undemocratic notification of the four so called ” labour codes” notified on 21st November 2025, defies all democratic ethos and has wrecked the character of welfare state of India to rubbles.
The joint platform of ten central trade unions and independent industrial federations have been resisting the implementation of these draconian labour codes since the day they were enacted repealing existing 29 central labour legislations. After the Code on Wages was enacted in 2019 immediate protests were observed culminating in a general strike in January 2020. And once the other three labour codes, Industrial Relations Code, Social Security Code, Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code were enacted in 2020 September immediate protests were held and historic General Strike on 26 November was observed by the Joint Platform of Trade unions along with historic Delhi Chalo of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). Further several joint actions were observed leading to latest July 9th 2025 General Strike in which more than 25 crores of workers had participated.
In-spite of the stiff resistance, the ruling regime in the Union Govt, dizzied with the victory in Bihar elections has felt super empowered to make effective the four labour codes from today as per the media reports and tweets by the Ministry of Labour & Employment. The Central Trade Unions Joint platform had urged to convene the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) immediately and had urged for scrapping of labour codes even in the meeting convened by the Ministry on 13th November on draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025. Even in the pre-budget consultation meeting held on 20th November by the Ministry of Finance it was urged on behalf of Joint platform of Trade Unions to scrap labour codes and convene ILC, which is not been held after 2015. The government remained obstinately unresponsive.
Instead, without heeding to any of the appeals, protests and strikes of the central Trade Unions, this Union government has made effective the labour codes to cater to the demands of employers’ representatives and BMS and other fringe supporters of the Govt made in the pre-budget consultative meeting. The Joint Platform of CTUs while denouncing the move of the Govt as most undemocratic, most regressive -anti worker and pro-employer reiterate in strongest terms that the lethal assault on the working people will be confronted with the fiercest and most United resistance in history.
The CTUs in one voice term the codes as genocidal attacks on the lives and livelihoods of workers seeking to impose virtual slavery and snatching away every right and entitlements of the workers.
The codes, if implemented will extinguish the hopes, faith and aspirations of the entire generations to come.
The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and independent industrial federations call the working people of India across the sectors to rise in rage in the joint action of combative resistance and defiance on 26th November 2025 along with the peasants led by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), against the implementation of labour codes, throughout nation in each and every work place, urging for the scrapping of labour codes and withdrawal of draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025.
The Joint Platform gives out a call to all its members to wear black badges right from now on in the work places to demonstrate defiance.
From Monday onwards Gate meetings, street corner meetings, meetings in the bastis etc should be held in war footing to expose the designs of the Union government trying to enslave the whole section of the wealth producers to the profit mongers.
The CTUs send a strong message that the notification of these codes, amidst deepening unemployment crisis, rising inflation is nothing short of declaration of war on the working masses. The Union government in cahoots with its capitalist cronies is attempting to take the country back to the exploitative era of master – servant relationship.
The Platform of Central Trade Unions sends a serious warning to the government that the working people of India will put up a formidable fight till the labour codes are withdrawn.
INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC
TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC