CPI(M) rejects labour codes; claims BJP-led Centre delayed notifying rules to avoid electoral repercussions

The Communist Party of India Marxist on Saturday strongly criticised the Centres decision to operationalisation the labour codes, alleging that the BJP-led Union government delayed notifying the rules until the conclusion of assembly elections to avoid political repercussions.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday strongly criticised the Centre's decision to operationalisation the labour codes, alleging that the BJP-led Union government delayed notifying the rules until the conclusion of assembly elections to avoid political repercussions. A statement issued by the CPI(M) Politburo said it ''denounces the operationalisation of Labour Codes by the Union government, through the notification of Central Rules for the same, on May 8, 2026''. The party alleged that the Centre had planned to implement the regulations earlier but deliberately postponed the move till after the elections. ''Though the BJP-led Union government had wished to operationalise the Labour Codes from April 1, 2026, itself, it deceptively waited till the Assembly elections in four states and a Union territory were over to notify the rules,'' the statement said. ''Within just four days after the announcement of results, they have now operationalised the Labour Codes. This exposes the deceptive modus operandi of the BJP-led Union government,'' it added. The CPI(M) claimed that BJP-ruled states were preparing to implement the new labour regime, also highlighting the stand taken by the vacating Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala. ''It is only the outgoing CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala which had denounced the implementation of Labour Codes, held a National Labour Conclave and constituted an expert committee under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Gopala Gowda, to recommend alternative measures,'' the statement said. According to the party, the expert panel had recommended that states use their legislative powers to protect workers' rights by amending the codes. ''The expert committee has recommended the state governments to bring amendments to protect the interests of workers,'' it said, adding that labour-related subjects are part of the Concurrent List of the Constitution. Urging states to intervene, the CPI(M) said, ''The CPI(M) urges the state governments to exercise their legislative powers under the Constitution, bring in amendments to the Labour Codes, and protect the interests of the workers instead of operationalising them as per the Central Rules that have been notified.''