05/03/2026
CITU Slams Karnataka Govt’s ‘Haste’ in Labour Code Rules, Holds Protest in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, March 5: Hundreds of workers from various sectors staged a protest demonstration today in front of the Labour Department in Bengaluru under the banner of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), demanding the immediate withdrawal of the regressive draft rules notified by the Karnataka government in line with the anti-worker labour codes of the central government.
CITU strongly criticised the Congress government in Karnataka for its unseemly haste in pushing through these draconian draft rules, even outpacing BJP-ruled states in implementing the labour codes. The organisation demanded that the state government utilise its legislative powers to introduce suitable amendments to the labour codes in order to safeguard the interests of the working people of Karnataka. Only after incorporating such amendments, CITU said, should the government proceed with framing the corresponding rules.
CITU also demanded that both the labour codes and the draft rules be officially published in Kannada to ensure that workers across the state are properly informed and able to participate meaningfully in the consultative process.
Workers from Bengaluru North, Bengaluru South, Bengaluru Rural and Ramanagara districts participated in large numbers in the protest. The demonstration was led by CITU State President Comrade Meenakshi Sundaram and General Secretary S. Varalakshmi.
A memorandum demanding the immediate withdrawal of the notified draft rules, along with proposals to amend the labour codes using the powers vested in the state government, was submitted by district committees of CITU and more than 150 registered trade unions affiliated with the organisation. The objection petitions were received by Additional Labour Commissioner Dr. Manjunath and Joint Labour Commissioner Ravikumar.
IT employees under the banner of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) also participated in the protest. Workers and activists from AITUC, who had come to the Labour Department to protest on the issue of minimum wages, joined the demonstration in solidarity.
Police attempted to obstruct the workers who came to submit the memorandum, but the workers resisted by raising slogans and proceeded with the submission.
CITU has been organising demonstrations and submitting objections across various districts of Karnataka over the past few days, witnessing massive participation from workers demanding the withdrawal of the anti-worker draft rules.
