CITU stages protest in Kalaburagi over pending revised minimum wages, labour codes

The district unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a protest in Kalaburagi city on Monday, demanding immediate implementation of the revised minimum wages notified by the Karnataka government and urging the Union government to withdraw the VB-G RAM G Act and the four labour codes.

The protesters marched from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Chowk to the Deputy Commissioner's office, where they submitted a memorandum to the state government through the district administration.

Addressing the gathering, CITU district president M.B. Sajjan said the state government had issued the final notification revising minimum wages on May 22, 2026, based on scientific calculations and in line with the Supreme Court's directions. Despite this notification, the revised wages have not been implemented, he said.

Mr. Sajjan urged the state government to act immediately, stating that the delay was affecting nearly one crore workers across Karnataka. He said workers were facing hardship due to the non-implementation of the wage revision, which was meant to adjust pay scales to current living costs.

The CITU leaders also opposed the Union government's VB-G RAM G Act, which they said has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). They demanded its withdrawal and also called for the repeal of the four labour codes.

The four labour codes — on wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety, health and working conditions — were passed by Parliament in 2019 and 2020. While the government has said they simplify and modernise labour laws, unions have argued that they dilute worker protections and make it easier for employers to bypass regulations.

Karnataka Pranth Raitha Sangha leader Sharanabasappa Mamshetty expressed solidarity with the protest, saying farmers were already struggling with mounting debt. He noted that rising prices of essential commodities, unemployment, and privatisation policies had further increased hardships for ordinary people.

Mr. Mamshetty also opposed the Draft Seeds Bill-2025, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill-2025, and the national policy framework on agricultural markets, saying these proposals would negatively affect farmers and rural communities.

The protest reflects ongoing concerns among workers and farmers about policy changes and delayed benefits. Trade unions have consistently opposed the four labour codes, and the VB-G RAM G Act has also drawn criticism from labour organisations, which fear it may undermine the guarantees provided under MGNREGA.

No official response from the state or Union government was reported by the time of filing this report.