Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative

At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

The Gujarat Factories (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, issued on July 1, allows daily working hours to be extended from 9 to 12, raises the quarterly overtime cap from 75 to 125 hours (subject to worker consent), and permits employment of women in night shifts under certain conditions. Labour leaders criticised the ordinance as an attack on workers’ rights, alleging it legalises what was already informally imposed in many factories.

Participants argued that the government was pushing through pro-employer reforms in the name of “ease of doing business,” economic recovery, and job creation, but was in reality formalising worker exploitation. They questioned the urgency of introducing such sweeping changes via ordinance without prior consultation with major trade unions or legislative debate. “What economic emergency has befallen Gujarat that such anti-worker changes are brought through ordinance before the Assembly meets?” they asked.

The union representatives reminded that India has ratified the ILO Convention C001 (1919), which limits industrial work to eight hours a day. The new provisions, they said, violate that commitment and undermine fundamental labour protections. They also pointed out that the central government has not yet implemented the four Labour Codes nationally due to resistance from national trade unions, and now state governments like Gujarat are pushing through pro-employer changes through the backdoor.

The potential consequences of 12-hour shifts, they warned, include decreased employment opportunities, increased risk of accidents in hazardous and noisy work environments, deterioration of workers’ health, and higher chances of labour law violations. Specific concerns were also raised about the safety of women working night shifts. “Given the rising incidents of sexual harassment in the state, who will ensure the safeguards promised under the new rules? Will violations lead to criminal prosecutions?” asked participants.

Speaking at the event, Vipul Pandya, coordinator of the Construction Workers’ Union and convener of the meeting, said, “This ordinance is not just a betrayal of workers, it is a regressive step that threatens their dignity and rights. If the government does not withdraw this anti-labour measure, a united agitation will be launched across Gujarat.”

The meeting was attended by leaders including Naishadh Desai (President, INTUC-Gujarat), Arun Mehta (General Secretary, CITU-Gujarat), Jayanti Panchal (President, HMS-Gujarat), Asim Roy (General Secretary, Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat), Adv. Amrish Patel (General Secretary, Gujarat Mazdoor Sabha), Kailasben Rajpal (SEWA), Arun Desai (Majoor Mahajan Sangh–Petlad), Pankaj Joshi (Majoor Mahajan Sangh–Jamnagar), Ashok Punjabi (Asangathit Kamdar Mahasangh), Sharad Jagde (Pravasi Shramik Suraksha Manch), Bhavesh Tank (Diamond Workers’ Union), Ramesh Srivastav (Mazdoor Adhikar Manch), Panlal Meghwal (Hamal Suraksha Sangh), Pravin Vyas (Forest Workers’ Union), Chandrakant Patel (Shramjeevi Samaj), and Sunil Raj (Ahmedabad Kamdar Suraksha Abhiyan), among others.

The session was moderated by Vipul Pandya.

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

Search This Blog