Hind Mazdoor Sabha vice president Thampan Thomas addressing the workshop in Thoothukudi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: RAJESH N
Thampan Thomas, former MP and vice president of Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) said that labour codes were designed to benefit the industry rather than the labour, at the national workshop on the topic ‘Labour Codes’ organised by All India Port and Dock Workers Federation (HMS) in Thoothukudi on Friday.Mr. Thomas attended the event as a resource person and addressed the gathering.Speaking on the occasion, he said that the labour codes tend to weaken the trade unions, thereby further creating several class divisions.Referring to the implementation of the codes, he said that a post-implementation analysis indicated that the change could have far reaching consequences. He alleged that there had already been instances of thousands of employees being terminated suddenly following the introduction of labour codes.He contended that future employment would largely be contractual in nature, leaving very less scope for permanent jobs. According to him, workers employed on long-term contracts would receive fewer benefits as contractual agreement will affect the statutory protection and agreements reached between trade unions and employers.He further said that trade unions could gradually lose their bargaining power and become ineffective as organisational structures undergo significant changes. He argued that the labour codes would create a class divide between labour and entrepreneurs, favouring the latter while weakening the working class.Stating that many rights secured by workers through more than a century of struggle could be eroded, he added that the codes were designed to benefit the industry rather than the labour.G.M. Krishnamoothy, president of AIPDWF (HMS), V. Sathya Narayanan, deputy general secretary AIPDWF (HMS) and several other delegates from major ports, local trade unions were present at the event. Published - July 17, 2026 08:01 pm IST
