CITU announces a massive Assembly march on March 23 demanding employee regularisation, DA hike, and repeal of new labour codes. Workers and pensioners raise strong concerns over wage disparities and alleged government inaction on Supreme Court directives.
A major confrontation between workers’ unions and the state government is set to unfold on March 23, as the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) prepares for a large-scale Assembly march on the final day of the ongoing budget session. The protest aims to press for a series of demands, including regularisation of non-regular employees, a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA), and the repeal of recently implemented labour codes.
Addressing the media on Saturday, senior leader and former Member of Parliament Sankar Prasad Datta accused the government of failing to act on a recent Supreme Court of India directive that called for the regularisation of non-regular employees. According to Datta, the ruling had raised hopes among thousands of workers engaged under various contractual and temporary arrangements.
“The Supreme Court’s judgment was a glimmer of hope. It directed the state to regularise employees and extend full pay-scale benefits. However, the government has shown no urgency in implementing these directions,” Datta stated. He went on to describe the government’s stance as “inhuman,” alleging continued neglect of vulnerable workers.
The issue of pending DA and Dearness Relief (DR) has further intensified dissatisfaction among government employees and pensioners. Datta claimed that, compared to central government scales, a gap of nearly 17 percent in DA remains unpaid. This discrepancy, he argued, has resulted in significant financial losses for employees, with monthly deficits ranging between ₹6,000 and ₹25,000 depending on rank and position. Pensioners, too, are reportedly bearing the brunt of this delay.
Another major point of contention is the implementation of the new labour codes, notified in November last year. CITU has strongly opposed these reforms, labeling them as “anti-working class.” The union alleges that the codes tilt the balance in favor of employers while undermining workers’ rights, particularly the constitutional right to collective bargaining.
Datta highlighted that states like Kerala have already introduced amendments to mitigate the impact of these labour codes, suggesting that similar measures could be adopted locally. He emphasized that labour remains a subject under the concurrent list, allowing both central and state governments to enact modifications.
CITU plans to submit a mass deputation to the Chief Minister during the Assembly session on March 23, reiterating its demands and seeking immediate action. The union has called upon workers across sectors to participate in large numbers, signaling what could be one of the most significant labour mobilisations in recent months.
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As tensions rise, the upcoming march is expected to test the government’s response to mounting pressure from employees and trade unions. Whether the protest will lead to concrete policy shifts remains to be seen, but it has already brought key labour issues back into sharp political focus.
