Staff reporter
Guwahati: A nationwide general strike has been called on May 20 by central trade unions, employees’ associations, and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha to protest against the Centre’s labour reforms and economic policies. A joint convention held in Guwahati on Friday announced that Assam would actively participate in the strike.
The convention, organized at the public auditorium of the Public Works Department, brought together representatives from multiple sectors, including oil, electricity, banking, insurance, industrial units, government schemes, and farmers’ organizations. Leaders from major trade unions such as INTUC, AITUC, CITU, AIUTUC, and AICCTU presided over the event.
Addressing the gathering, union leaders alleged that under the BJP-led central government, workers and farmers are facing unprecedented challenges, with long-standing labour rights being diluted. They expressed concern over the implementation of four new labour codes, which they claim strip away protections like the 8-hour workday, minimum wage guarantees, and collective bargaining rights.
“Labour laws will no longer be mandatory for establishments with fewer than 300 employees. This means thousands of workers will be left at the mercy of employers,” said CITU State Secretary Tapan Sharma. He also warned that workers denied rightful payments under the new codes would have no legal remedy. AITUC State secretary Ramen Das highlighted that various welfare legislations—including the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Act and the Workers’ Compensation Act—would lose their autonomy under the new labour regime.
Speakers also criticized the state government for failing to revise the minimum wage in Assam for over a decade. Scheme workers such as Anganwadi staff, ASHA workers, and midday meal cooks continue to receive meagre honorariums without proper pay or social security. The convention further condemned the Centre’s “neoliberal” economic policies, blaming them for the ongoing agrarian crisis. Farmer leaders warned against the newly proposed “National Framework for Agricultural Trade,” which they claim would open up agriculture to unchecked corporate exploitation.
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