Spokesperson: Dr. Udit Raj: The Chairman of the Unorganised Workers and Employees Congress, Dr Udit Raj alleged that the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Social Security Code (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020) collectively undermine job security, wage stability, workplace safety, and social protection, affecting crores of workers across the country.

The Unorganised Workers and Employees Congress (UWEC) has issued an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking the immediate scrapping of the four Labour Codes, alleging that the laws are “inherently anti-worker, corporate-centric, and have snatched away hard-won labour rights.”

Dr Udit Raj criticised the legalisation of ‘hire and fire’, citing the increase of the layoff/retrenchment approval threshold from 100 to 300 workers. He remarked that the normalisation of Fixed-Term Employment (FTE) effectively ends long-term employment prospects.

The Code’s provisions for gig and platform workers were described as “tokenistic,” providing only registration and ID cards but no enforceable benefits under ESIC, EPFO, gratuity, maternity benefits, or insurance mechanisms. Reduction in the role of existing Welfare Boards was flagged as undermining the continuity of welfare schemes.

UWEC called for a single, strong Welfare Board for all unorganised workers to ensure uniform, effective and accountable social protection. Thursday, November 27, 2025