The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) on Monday condemned the Assam government’s decision to increase the working hours of labourers from eight hours a day to 12 hours.

The ACMS general secretary, Rupesh Gowala, said they condemned the Assam government’s decision and urged its withdrawal.

The Assam cabinet on Friday followed other BJP-ruled states in approving labour reforms to boost the economy at a time when economic activities have come to a grinding halt due to the lockdown.

The measures in the labour reforms includes introduction of fixed-term employment and increase in shift duty of workers from eight to 12 hours.

“We urge the government to decrease the working hours because it is anti-labourer. If the government does not withdraw its decision, the workers will protest,” Gowala said.

Rajya Sabha MP from Assam Ajit Kumar Bhuyan demanded a stop to the exploitation the workers.

The Opposition AIUDF also demanded immediate rollback of the rules. “The introduction of fixed-term employment and increase in shift duty of workers is inhumane. It violates the international law on labour, said AIUDF leader and Dhubri MP Badruddin Ajmal.

Bhuyan, along with human rights activist and advocate Santanu Borthakur and journalist Manjit Mahanta, in a statement said the government has failed to revive the economy.

Additional reporting by Rokibuz Zaman in Guwahati