'Covid-19 Crisis Not An Excuse To Flout Human Rights': Rahul Gandhi Criticises Amendment Of Labour Laws

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has criticised state governments' move to amend labour laws for providing relief and encouragement to industries and companies.

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: On Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to lash out at state governments that are amending key labour laws. Gandhi has been actively criticising the steps undertaken by central and state governments during the Covid-19 crisis. Recently, certain state governments had amended labour laws wherein, the minimum wage hours were extended, states gave a free hand to hire and fire, and in an extreme move, the Uttar Pradesh government took to completely suspend more than 30 labour laws in the state for 3 years. Addressing this issue, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Labor laws are being amended by many states. We are fighting against Corona together, but this cannot be an excuse to flout human rights, allow unsafe workplaces, exploit workers and suppress their voices. There can be no compromise on these basic principles." The decision to amend labour laws has been met with extreme reactions as there are people who support it for providing leverage to industries in these tough economic conditions while on the other end, there are those who vehemently oppose it for compromising on the rights of workers who have already been worst-hit by the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus cases in the country. States can frame their own laws but will have to seek approval of the central government to enforce them. Meanwhile, the former Congress president has also been consistent in demanding an audit of PM-CARES Funds, asking Centre to be transparent in the donations the fund has received and how the money is being used in fighting the Coronavirus crisis.

The #PmCares fund has received huge contributions from PSUs & major public utilities like the Railways.

It’s important that PM ensures the fund is audited & that the record of money received and spent is available to the public. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 9, 2020

Also Watch: Why is Congress troubled by PM CARES fund?