Vaiko asks Centre to halt amendments to labour laws

Says sacrificing the rights of the workers is not acceptable

The MDMK, an ally of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, today demanded that the Union government drop proposed amendments to some labour laws which would "sacrifice" the hard won rights of the working classes.

"I urge the BJP government to give up efforts to bring in amendments to labour and industrial laws which would favour multi-nationals and corporates by sacrificing workers' legal rights that were won through hard struggle," Vaiko, General Secretary of MDMK said here in a statement.

A Cabinet meeting on July 30 had approved amendments to labour and industrial laws including the Apprenticeship Act 1961 and Factories Act 1948, and amendments were likely to be passed in Parliament, he said.

Stating that such legislations were protective of the interests of the working class, Vaiko said the BJP regime had been journeying in the path of the Congress dispensation in economy.

"Sacrificing the rights of the workers is not acceptable which were secured after sacrificing lives and shedding blood," he added.