Kerala: Trade unions' strike against Centre's proposed employment regulations hits life in state

Thiruvananthapuram: The general strike called by various trade unions demanding a rollback of a central government order allowing fixed-term employment across all sectors, affected normal life in the state on Monday. Most of the shops and business establishments remained shut.

The commuters faced problems as public transports including the state-owned KSRTC and private bus operators, besides taxis and auto-rickshaws stayed off the road. The people who arrived at different railway stations across the state had a difficult time in undertaking their onward journey.

The police, however, had made arrangements at some places to help the stranded passengers. No untoward incident has been reported from any part of the state so far, the police said.

The offices of both the central and state governments witnessed thin attendance. The functioning of banks was also affected due to the strike. The strike called by 16 trade unions under the banner of Joint Trade Unions began last midnight and would end tonight.

The agitating unions alleged that the government decision to extend the facility of hiring workers on fixed-term employment to all sectors would legalise ‘hire and fire’ while permanent jobs would vanish.

The Centre had amended the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946 last month to extend the facility of fixed-term employment in all sectors. It was available for apparel manufacturing sector earlier.

The important amendment has been brought about by an executive order, without the scrutiny of the matter by Parliament or the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, the unions pointed out. CITU, INTUC, AITUC, STU, HMS, UTUC are among the major unions that have joined the protest call. BMS did not take part in the strike.