CITU slams 13-hour work law, calls for rollback

Proddatur – Andhra Pradesh: The CITU has strongly condemned the state government’s decision to mandate 13-hour workdays and 10-hour night shifts for women, calling the move anti-worker and demanding its immediate withdrawal.

Rally planned in Proddatur

CITU leaders announced that a rally of workers and employees will be organized from Vijay Kumar Circle to the Tahsildar’s office on Friday, September 26, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the resolution.

Historic gains being undermined

At a press meet held at the CITU office in Proddatur on Tuesday, District Secretary Satyanarayana and Town Secretary Vijayakumar condemned the government’s decision. They said workers had secured 8-hour workdays during the British era through immense sacrifice, and extending hours now was a regressive step.

“The coalition government in the state, with support from the BJP at the Centre, is imposing a draconian law that no government in history has ever survived by enforcing,” they said.

Warning to coalition government

The leaders warned that the government would face the same consequences as the previous regime if it pursued anti-worker policies. They criticized the BJP for backing regional parties while ignoring the very workers and people who voted for them.

Statewide agitation threatened

CITU leaders cautioned that if the resolution is not repealed, statewide protests involving employees and workers will become inevitable. They called upon employees, job workers, and unions to mobilize in large numbers to resist the policy.

Union leaders express solidarity

The press meet also saw the participation of Municipal Union Secretary Salman, Auto Union Secretary Shekhar, and DYFI Secretary Vishwanath, who extended solidarity with the upcoming rally.