Shram Shakti Niti 2025 is anti-labour
S Veeraiah
THE Modi government has published a draft labour policy -- Shram Shakti Niti 2025. The policy document gives rise to a host of questions. What is the objective of this policy? What should be the labour policy? Is everything contained in ancient texts like Manusmriti? Is there a special Indian concept of labour? The labour department is responsible for resolving disputes through methods such as enforcement of labour laws, inspections, mediation between management and trade unions, reaching compromises, and adjudication. Laws were made to protect the rights of workers. The process of making laws for workers gained acceptance worldwide after the Russian Revolution of 1917. The revolution in Russia gave rights to the workers. Many capitalist countries like America, Britain, France, Italy, and Japan noticed that its impact was likely to spread throughout the world. In an attempt to create the illusion that they would provide these rights, they initiated the formation of the International Labor Organization (ILO). The Russian Revolution inspired the working class, which was already fighting for its rights. The working class movement also gained momentum in India. As a result, many laws like the Trade Union Act, the Payment of Wages Act, and the Industrial Disputes Act had to be made during British rule. After independence, the working class achieved more legal rights. Although these did not provide complete justice to the working class, some good came of it. These laws were also not implemented properly. Later, in the name of globalisation, even these laws started getting watered down. Gradually, the labour department started functioning as the employers’ department. From the period of united Andhra Pradesh to the present day Telugu states, employers have been appointed as the labour minister on many occasions. Now, the Modi government is legalising the labour department as the employers’ department in essence, under the garb of Shram Shakti Niti.
This paper said that the inspection system is outdated and that diverse state capacities and technological disruptions have revealed the need for a unified national framework. According to our Constitution, labour is in the concurrent list. An attempt is being made to undermine workers’ rights and powers of states in the name of a unified national framework. The goal of the policy is “ease of doing business”. That is, the labour policy is being changed to a policy that is followed for the benefit of business. It says that there will be greater flexibility in this policy for both employers and workers. It also said that it is inevitable to remove some workers in line with changing science and technology. The meaning of the term flexibility is not unknown. It is nothing but giving freedom to the employers to remove workers or make them work as slaves. So far, the labour department has been expected to look after the implementation of labour laws and the necessary inspections. Now, in the policy document, the department is expected to be responsible for facilitating employment. It is not even about providing employment opportunities, but about facilitating them. This means that the labour department will remain an agency that provides information about employment opportunities. This means that there is no need for a ministry in the government for the rights and security of workers. It will act as an employer’s department.
The result of labour anywhere in the world is the same. It is to increase production and wealth. This is something that is easier for everyone to understand than ever in the era of globalisation. But, in this policy document, the Modi government says that the Indian understanding of labour goes beyond the economic dimension; it embodies a sacred and moral duty, that sustains social harmony, economic wellbeing and collective prosperity. That is, do not ask for wages commensurate with labour. It emphasises that labour is the moral responsibility of the workers. There is no mention of employer-employee relations anywhere in this policy. There is no hint of bilateral or tripartite agreements. We are asked to believe that the employers will voluntarily look after labour rights! Today, Modi is implementing the theory of former RSS leader Golwalkar who said that labour laws should not be enacted; instead we have to see that the minds of the employers are transformed! This policy paper says that the government will constantly organise awareness programmes so that employers voluntarily look after labour rights. It will teach ethics to industrialists! Before formulating this policy, the central trade unions were not consulted. It is tradition to organise the Indian Labour Conference to formulate a labour policy in independent India. These things are not liked by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. That is why they formulated the policy. The opinion-gathering process has ended in the name of releasing the draft. Draft says that the basis for formulating this policy is in the ancient scriptures. Manusmriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Narada Smriti, and Shukraniti have been shown as ideals in this policy document. It is said that all the roots of the policy of the modern era are in these scriptures. The policy was formulated on the basis of Rajdharma. That is why the Modi government, it seems, brought the Sengol (sceptre) that was kept in the archaeological museum by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and placed it in Parliament. Nehru promised that democratic rule would be implemented in the country. Prime Minister Modi, showed off his Sengol that his rule is similar to a monarchy.
Smritis also talk about labour relations. That is true. But, Smritis express the labour relations of the Smritis period. Historians estimate that the Smritis were written between the second century and the sixth century. That was, a very backward society. The period when the feudal system was being established. The period when the caste system was strengthened. Everyone knows how Manusmriti justified the caste system. All the labour relations of that time were relations between the landlords and the labourers. Relations linked to the caste system. Therefore, the principles related to labour relations mentioned in the Smriti indicate the conditions of that time. Now we are in the 21st century. We are in the era of artificial intelligence. Production forces developed to a high level. Accordingly, the skill of workers has increased many times. Modern science and technology has come into practice. The Industrial Revolution is moving towards the fifth stage. Monarchies have ended and democratic countries have emerged. Capitalism has developed into the stage of globalisation. In this process, a production system that is not related to caste and religion has developed. Moral responsibility and caste occupation have been replaced by workers' rights. Labour laws have become inevitable. The principle of 8-hour workday came as a demand in the early stages of industrialisation. With the establishment of the working class state in Russia, the 8-hour workday became legal. Even developed capitalist countries had to make many laws for the rights and welfare of workers. Now production is done not with steam engines, but with artificial intelligence. Production and profits of the owners have increased manifold. The fruits of modern science and technology should also go to the workers by reducing working hours, increasing wages and facilities.
A labour policy should be formulated in such a way that working families will flourish in economic, social and cultural fields. Contrary to this, the Centre has proposed a policy without mention of rights. Changes are being made to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to remove the criminal acts of the owners from the list of crimes. This means that even if employers commit crimes, they are considered as simple mistakes. On the other hand, the protests of the working class and organised struggles are being brought under the ambit of crimes. That is, the oppressive measures of the Smritis period are being legalised. The Modi government has already repealed the labour laws. Feudal oppression is being imposed in the name of the Indian concept of labour. It is an attempt to make today's workers modern slaves. In the spirit of the memories of the ancient times, they take slave work with the workers. There is no place for rights for the workers except responsibilities. The employers are served by the rulers in the spirit of modern times. All opportunities are provided to accumulate wealth using modern science and technology. The essence of this policy is to give complete freedom to the exploitation of multinational corporations in the name of national and international connection. The government also stressed that this is a long-term policy. International cooperation is also taken to implement this policy in such a way that the working class feels a moral responsibility and bows down. This is a Shram Shakti Niti without value of labour. This is a challenge for the working class. The Modi government is taking aggressive steps in formulating policies to discredit labour rights and serve the employers. The working class movement should also be prepared to face it with the same speed and perseverance.
