Elamaram Kareem, CITU General Secretary, writes to Mallikarjun Kharge, President of Indian National Congress, urging him to intervene and stop the Congress-led Karnataka Government from implementing Labour Codes. The Codes are opposed by trade unions nationwide for favouring corporate interests and undermining workers' rights. Karnataka's move contradicts opposition unity and the stand taken by Kerala. CITU appeals to Kharge to ensure Karnataka Government withdraws the draft rules immediately.
3rd February 2026
To
Shri Mallikarjun Kharge
President,
Indian National Congress,
Sub: Urgent intervention sought on Karnataka Government's move to implement Labour Codes-Reg.
Dear Kharge Ji,
I am writing to you in the context of the All India General Strike on 12th February 2026, which has been jointly called by 10 Central Trade Unions, including INTUC, against the anti-people and anti-labour policies of the Union Government. The prime demand raised by Joint T.U. Action Committee is to withdraw 4 Labour Coes. It is in this critical backdrop of united nationwide resistance that the decision of the Congress led Karnataka State Government to notify draft rules for the implementation of the Labour Codes, has caused wide spread anger, shock, and resentment among the working class and trade unions across the country.
The General strike has been necessitated by the Union Government’s relentless pursuit of policies that favour corporate interest at the cost of workers rights. The core and no negotiable demand of this historic struggle in the repeal of the four Labour Codes, which comprehensively dismantle the hard earned rights of the working class, which were won through decades of struggle. These Codes facilitate unfettered corporate exploitation by weakening collective bargaining, diluting job security, curtailing the right to strike, curbing the right to form trade unions and undermining basic protection and welfare measures for workers. The Union Government is aggressively proceeding with the notification of rules under these codes, reducing public consultation to mere formality, with no objection from trade unions being considered.
The entire opposition, including the Indian National Congress, have been consistently opposing, inside and outside Parliament, the bulldozing of anti-people legislations by the BJP led Union Government, standing firmly with the working people of the country. State like Kerala have taken principled position and are fighting in the fore front for workers’ rights. Kerala has categorically declared that it will not implement the Labour Codes in the state. The LDF Government of Kerala had convened a Labour Conclave to explore legal avenue to resist them and constituted a high level committee under the Chairmanship of Justice(Rtd) Gopal Gowda, to examine Constitutional remarks.
It is therefore, extremely disturbing and unfortunate that the Congress led Government in Karnataka has initiated steps to implement these draconian Labour Codes. At a time when even several BJP rules states have not proceeded with framing draft rules, the Karnataka Government has already notified draft rules, directly contradicting the united resistance of trade unions and the collective stand of the opposition.
This move is against the spirit of opposition unity, undermines, the nationwide united struggle of trade unions, and is viewed by working class as a serious- betrayal of workers interests across the country. In the larger interests of the working class, and to uphold the principled stand taken by the united trade union movement against Labour Codes, we urgently appeal to you to intervene and ensure that the Karnataka Government withdraws or freezes the draft rules notified under the Labour Codes immediately. You may note that this is not merely an administrative issue. Rather it is a test of political consistency, credibility, and commitment to the people of India.
An urgent corrective action at your end will go a long way in restoring confidence among the working class and reinforcing the unity of the opposition in resisting these anti-worker legislations.
We look forward to your prompt and decisive intervention.
With warm regards.
Yours sincerely,
(Elamaram Kareem)
General Secretary
