As the country begins a new financial year (2021-22) on Thursday, more than 10,000 workers at factories, industrial areas, mines and PSU offices across all 24 districts of Jharkhand will burn or tear up copies of the new labour codes as a part of their agitation against the four rules that subsumed 29 central labour laws.

“Directive has been sent to all cities and districts in the state which have a sizable labour force for Thursday’s agitation. We have asked the workforce and trade union leaders not to affect work at any cost. Copies of the new labour codes will be burnt either during the lunch hour or during change of work shifts especially at mines and plants,” said Prakash Viplav on behalf of the Central Trade Unions’ Jharkhand unit.

The joint platform of the 10 central trade unions have been demanding withdrawal of the four codes, which were passed by Parliament in 2019 and 2020.

“We had taken part in a three-day protest from March 24 along with other parts of the country demanding withdrawal of the four labour codes, the three new farm laws, repeal of the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2021, enactment of a law to provide guarantee of MSP, end to wholesale privatisation and disinvestment of public sector enterprises and government departments, corporatisation and privatisation of government sectors. We are forced to protest against the arrogant attitude of the (Narendra) Modi government for not responding to the demands of the trade unions,” said Viplav.

The 10 trade unions — Intuc (Indian National Trade Union Congress), Aituc (All India Trade Union Congress), Citu (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), HMS (Hind Mazdoor Sabha), Aiutuc (All India United Trade Union Centre), TUCC (Trade Union Coordination Centre), SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association), Aicctu (All India Central Council of Trade Unions), UTUC (United Trade Union Congress) and LPF (Labour Progressive Federation) — will be taking part in the agitation.

“The time has come to teach a lesson to the ruling party at the Centre for pursuing anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national policies. We are geared up for the success of the symbolic protest against the government on Thursday,” added Viplav.

However, the Centre has decided that the four labour codes will not come into effect from Thursday as states are yet to finalise the relevant rules, reports PTI.