February 12, 2026
Kalyan Banerjee’s speech on The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Hon. Chairperson, Madam, on behalf of my Party, I really oppose this Amendment Bill. I am continuing to say what Shri Afzal Ansari has just now said. The main Act has lost the force. The Industrial Relations Code has taken away the entire livelihood of the labourers of the country. What have we achieved? After agriculture, the main strength of the country is labourer. In this House, we never get the chance or scope to discuss about the labourers’ fate and their condition at all, nor is the Labour Ministry’s Budget discussed. This is the time today that we have got the chance. Madam, the entire scenario has been changed within four to five years in India. There was a change from contract of service to contract for service. Now all the employers are more interested to give the contract for service. A contractor may be even the Government. The contract for service means it is directly coming under the employer. Because of this, the workers who are not appointed by the contractor neither get gratuity, nor provident fund, nor ESI, nor any other security in their service. After the Independence, the country brought the Constitution where there was not only security of employment but also social justice, irrespective of who is giving the employment. The earlier system of Government employment is gone. This is all privatization and then contract for service with Rs.8,000 to Rs.10,000 per month. Is the Government making joke of labourers in this country? Do they feel nice or happy? What protection have you given them in the Industrial Relations Code? All the safety measures of previous Labour Code, Industrial Disputes Act etc. have been taken away. All powers have been given to the employer. My friend was talking about the punishment. What punishment are you talking about? Today, you bring the law for punishment of three months to six months just to impress the people. Next year, you will bring Jan Vishwas Bill to become friendlier with the industrialists and take away all kinds of punishment. What a peculiar situation of our country is! I must appreciate this. The world will appreciate how this Bill brought in the forum of Parliament controls the employer etc. and there will be punishment for six months, one year or two years. Within two or three years, the Jan Vishwas Bill will come. We will become friendlier with the industrialists and punishment will be removed. You are absolutely making fun of the Parliament and of the country. Madam, about the trade union, the Trade Union Act is going to be replaced. The Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act has been replaced and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 has also been replaced. I would like to ask what remains in the country itself? If you do not recognize the trade union itself, why are you afraid of the trade union? That means, you do not want democracy in the country. You do not want that some persons should be there who will be united together and fight against the employer and against the Government. You do not want this. You do not want that a member of the trade union shall espouse the cause of another member. You do not want the trade union to go the Tribunal and other places to fight the cases of the workers. You do not want the recognition of the trade unions. I would like to ask what remains. Madam, now, I would come to the Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act. It speaks about the conditions of service for the employees. This has gone. Then I would like to ask what remains. Regarding the Industrial Disputes Act, I do not know whose idea is this and who has brought it. You are having a majority. Therefore, you will do whatever you would like to do. I cannot think about this. A workman’s right under the Industrial Disputes Act, is so much recognized, but you have ignored everything. This is the unfortunate part. मैडम, थोड़ा और समय दीवजए। लेबर मंतो हम लोग कभी बोल नहं सकतेहं। कभी वडस्कश भी नहं हुआ। Sometimes you hear the criticism, you do not like it; I understand that. I can tell you that these are your heydays. Every day will not be the heyday. You will regret. The day will come when the workers, the agricultural labourers will show their power by giving the mandate. Is this the way that the workers’ rights are taken away? This is not the way the country’s workers suffer during their services. Is this the way Henry rules will be made applicable? Is this the way the Government can remain in favour of the industrialists? Is this the way when the Government throws the workers from the country itself? My friend was talking about how much. It is 2.5 crore to 3 crore labourers who are working in the foreign countries. I would like to ask whether this is the achievement of Mr. Narendra Modi’s Government? Is it सबका साथ-सबका विकास? 3 crore or 3.5 crore unskilled labourers are working. Go to Dubai or go to any place in the country, you will see that the labour force has gone. You have destroyed the labourers. You have destroyed the industries. You have destroyed the rights of the agriculturists. You have destroyed the rights of the labourers. You are only running after the two industrialists from Gujarat. दो गजराती आय ु ेप्रधानमत्री और ग ं हमृ त्री आए। … येचारं वमलकर दश चलात े ेहंऔर कोई चीज नहं है।
