‘Absolutely Pathetic’: Minister Lambasts Mallikarjun Kharge Over Labour Codes Claims

Last Updated:December 03, 2025, 18:32 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge had warned that news Labour Codes would weaken job security, dilute standing orders, and reduce safety protections.

Labour Minister Issues Point-by-Point Rebuttal to Kharge’s “Anti-Worker” Charge. (File)

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday slammed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over allegations that the newly introduced Labour Codes were “anti-worker" and tilted toward corporate interests, saying that the Congress has sunk so low in its hatred for the BJP that it is now standing against workers’ welfare.

Mandaviya, in a post on X, issued a detailed, point-by-point rebuttal, accusing the Congress of spreading “misleading and false" claims, saying that the Narendra Modi government stands firmly for workers’ welfare, job creation, formalisation, and social security.

Earlier today, Kharge detailed the Congress charge against the Modi government in a post on X, where he outlined what he called the threat to job security, problems with working hours and shifts, weakened trade unions and collective rights, weakened safety and welfare and other concerns.

Kharge had warned that the Labour Codes would weaken job security, dilute standing orders, reduce safety protections, allow longer shifts, restrict union rights, and undermine migrant welfare, charging that the government was eroding decades of hard-won labour safeguards.

Job Security Fully Protected, Says Mandaviya

Countering Kharge’s criticism over enhanced layoff thresholds, Mandaviya insisted that job protections remain intact.

“Mandatory one-month notice and retrenchment compensation continue as before, but Congress hides these facts to spread fear," he said. The minister highlighted the introduction of a Reskilling Fund—a first in India—designed to support workers who lose jobs, adding that raising the threshold will “boost job creation by encouraging employers to hire more people directly instead of through contractors."

He argued that an expansion of formal jobs will lead to greater access to social security, guaranteed wages, and safer work conditions—“the very things Congress failed to expand in decades."

Fixed-Term Employees Get Full Benefits

Dismissing claims that Fixed Term Employment (FTE) would erode permanent jobs, Mandaviya said the codes for the first time grant FTEs all benefits equivalent to permanent workers, including EPF, ESI, minimum wages, and timely pay.

“Fixed Term Employees (FTEs) now enjoy all benefits equal to permanent employees (EPF, ESI, timely wages, minimum wages). FTEs are now eligible for gratuity after just one year, another first under the Modi Government," he added.

This reduces the rampant contractualisation that Congress allowed for years, he said.

Working Hours: ‘Flexibility for Workers, Not Exploitation’

Kharge had warned that state-level flexibility could enable de facto 12-hour shifts, raising safety risks.

Mandaviya rejected the claim, reiterating that the 48-hour weekly cap remains non-negotiable. “Workers can voluntarily choose a four-day week with three paid holidays. Any additional hours require double overtime pay and the worker’s consent. Congress knows this but prefers lies over facts," he said.

Trade Union Rights Strengthened, Not Weakened: Mandaviya

Calling the Congress’s allegations on trade-union restrictions “blatantly false," the Union Minister said the codes require only a 14-day notice before a strike, not 60 days as alleged.

“These reforms ensure conciliation first, reduce flash strikes, and protect workers’ wages," he said. For the first time, he added, trade unions receive statutory recognition as negotiating unions, strengthening collective bargaining.

Safety, Welfare, and Unorganised Workers

Addressing concerns over weakened protections for journalists, beedi workers, and other groups, the Union Minister said no sector-specific safeguards had been removed.

“Appointment letters are now mandatory for every employee—a basic dignity Congress never ensured," he said. He added that the codes extend social-security coverage to 40 crore unorganised-sector workers, including gig and platform workers, and prevent states from diluting protections without meeting Central guidelines.

Accountability Measures Retained

Mandaviya asserted that only minor offences have been decriminalised to speed up compliance, while serious violations will continue to attract criminal prosecution.

He also pointed out that “many non-NDA states have already implemented similar amendments," making Congress’s criticism “hollow even within its own governing states."

“Modi Government stands firmly for workers’ welfare, job creation, formalisation, and social security. Congress is attacking reforms it never had the vision to introduce. Congress has sunk so low in its hatred for the BJP that it is now standing against workers’ welfare," he concluded.

Row Over Labour Codes

Several Opposition MPs, including Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, protested on Wednesday against the new labour codes in Parliament House complex and demanded their scrapping.

MPs of the Congress, DMK, TMC, Left parties, among others, participated in the protest in front of the Makar Dwar of Parliament. Carrying posters and placards against the new labour codes, the opposition MPs raised slogans demanding their rollback.

Besides Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, TMC’s Dola Sen, DMK’s K Kanhimozhi and A Raja, CPI(M)’s John Brittas, CPI(ML) Liberation’s Sudama Prasad, among others, participated in the protest. The MPs also held a large banner which read – ‘No to Corporate Jungle Raj, Yes to Labour Justice’.

New Labour Codes

The Centre had last month notified the four labour codes, pending since 2020. The Congress had alleged that the 29 existing labour-related laws have been re-packaged into the four codes. The four labour codes are the Code of Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020) and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020).

Key reforms include mandatory appointment letters to workers to ensure formalisation and job security; universal social security coverage, including to gig, platform, contract, and migrant workers, with PF, ESIC, and insurance benefits; statutory minimum wages and timely payment across all sectors; expanded rights and safety for women, including night-shift work and mandatory grievance committees; and free annual health check-ups for workers aged 40 and above.

News politics ‘Absolutely Pathetic’: Minister Lambasts Mallikarjun Kharge Over Labour Codes Claims

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