Latest news with #APFactoriesAmendmentBill
New Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
HRF condemns Andhra govt's move to extend workday from 8 to 10 hrs
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has opposed the AP Cabinet's recent approval of the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025, which proposes to extend the workday to 10 hours. Terming the move as a serious threat to labour rights, HRF State General Secretary Y Rajesh and HRF member of the AP & Telangana Coordination Committee VS Krishna demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the proposed amendment. The amendment, which seeks to modify provisions under the Factories Act, 1948, has been described by the government as a reform aimed at improving business efficiency. However, HRF argued that the change undermines the progress made over decades through labour struggles for fair and humane working conditions. 'The eight-hour workday has long been a cornerstone of labour rights, not a gift from employers but the outcome of generations of working-class resistance,' the Forum stated. It recalled the role played by BR Ambedkar in shaping and institutionalising this right in the 1940s, and criticised the amendment as a rollback of this significant achievement. According to HRF, the language of 'ease of doing business' is increasingly being used to justify policies that erode labour protections.
Hans India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
HRF condemns AP's10-hour workday bill
Visakhapatnam: The Human Rights Forum (HRF) condemned the recent assent by the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet to the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025 that seeks to impose a 10-hour work day. This, the HRF representatives opine, is an irresponsible and deliberate assault on labour rights and dignity. 'We demand its immediate and unconditional withdrawal. This move, sought to be brought about through an amendment to The Factories Act, 1948, is no 'reform' but a grotesque regression. It is plainly exploitative and treats with contempt decades of labour struggles that have advocated for and attained a humane and sustainable work environment,' mentioned HRF AP state general secretary Y Rajesh and HRF AP and TG coordination committee member VS Krishna. These rights have a long and glorious history, wrested through generations of hard-fought battles led by the working class and progressive movements. The state government now seeks to dismantle these rights so as to benefit corporate interests, they pointed out. The eight-hour work day is the cornerstone of modern labour rights. The HRF recalled the historic legacy of BR Ambedkar who played a decisive role in institutionalising the eight-hour workday. This is now being sought to be rolled back. Extending the maximum daily working hours amounts to entrenching exploitation and a roll-back of hard-won labour safeguards. It normalises overwork, erodes the right to rest and leisure and strips away dignity from labour. This measure constitutes a fundamental breach of the government's constitutional obligations, they emphasised. HRF calls upon all democratic forces to oppose this devious move.
Hans India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
HRF condemns AP's 10-hour workday bill
Visakhapatnam: The Human Rights Forum (HRF) condemned the recent assent by the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet to the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025 that seeks to impose a 10-hour work day. This, the HRF representatives opine, is an irresponsible and deliberate assault on labour rights and dignity. 'We demand its immediate and unconditional withdrawal. This move, sought to be brought about through an amendment to The Factories Act, 1948, is no 'reform' but a grotesque regression. It is plainly exploitative and treats with contempt decades of labour struggles that have advocated for and attained a humane and sustainable work environment,' mentioned HRF AP state general secretary Y Rajesh and HRF AP and TG coordination committee member VS Krishna. These rights have a long and glorious history, wrested through generations of hard-fought battles led by the working class and progressive movements. The state government now seeks to dismantle these rights so as to benefit corporate interests, they pointed out. The eight-hour work day is the cornerstone of modern labour rights. The HRF recalled the historic legacy of BR Ambedkar who played a decisive role in institutionalising the eight-hour workday. This is now being sought to be rolled back. Extending the maximum daily working hours amounts to entrenching exploitation and a roll-back of hard-won labour safeguards. It normalises overwork, erodes the right to rest and leisure and strips away dignity from labour. This measure constitutes a fundamental breach of the government's constitutional obligations, they emphasised. HRF calls upon all democratic forcesto oppose this devious move.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
BMS slams labour law amendments, warns of direct action
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has strongly opposed and condemned the State government's decision to amend the existing labour laws through the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025. Addressing the media on Tuesday, BMS National Vice President M. Jagadiswara Rao and State General Secretary M.V.S. Naidu criticised the decision to increase the working hours to 10, stating that it would negatively impact workers' health and welfare. They dismissed the State government's justification that these changes were necessary to ensure Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and will attract investors. The leaders said that the changes would not reduce procedural burdens for industrial units. The increase of OT (Overtime) hours from 50 to 144 hours every quarter is wrong and will impact employment prospects of job seekers. Mr. Jagadiswara Rao recalled that the BMS had previously opposed the four Labour Codes proposed by the Centre to replace labour laws, as they were not in the interests of workers. Many State governments have been amending their labour laws with the Centre's decision. Now, the Alliance government in AP has decided to amend its labour laws and sent the proposal to the Centre. He added that the OT policy was brought in to utilise the services of workers for emergencies, not regularly. The proposal to permit women workers in night shifts even with safeguards is not correct. The BMS leaders reiterated their demand for the withdrawal of the proposed amendment, failing which they would resort to direct action.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HRF condemns AP Cabinet's proposed 10-hour work day
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has criticised the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet's recent approval of the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025, which seeks to extend the workday to 10 hours. The HRF described it as an irresponsible and deliberate assault on labour rights, and has demanded its immediate and unconditional withdrawal. In a statement on Tuesday, V. Rajesh, HRF AP State general secretary, and V.S. Krishna – HRF AP & TG Coordination Committee member—said that the amendment to the Factories Act, 1948, is no 'reform' but rather a regressive and exploitative move. It undermines decades of hard-fought battles by the working class that established a humane and sustainable working environment. The HRF leaders pointed out that the State government now seeks to dismantle these rights to benefit corporate interests. The 8-hour workday is the cornerstone of modern-day labour rights, achieved through decades of working-class resistance. B.R. Ambedkar, who played a decisive role in institutionalising the 8-hour workday, was in many ways its architect. Ambedkar's relentless efforts in the 1940s, in conjunction with the working-class struggles, led to an 8-hour cap on daily work. This is now being sought to be rolled back. Mr. Krishna and Mr. Rajesh noted that HRF was of the view that the much-talked-about 'ease/speed of doing business' has become a euphemism for curtailing labour rights so as to appease the capital investors. In the current policy discourse in the State, 'attracting investment' is shorthand for systematic deregulation, casualisation, weakening of regulatory oversight, and erosion of labour rights. Extending the maximum daily working hours amounts to entrenching exploitation and a rollback of hard-won labour safeguards. It normalises overwork, erodes the right to rest and leisure, and deprives workers of dignity from labour. This measure constitutes a fundamental breach of the government's Constitutional obligations. The HRF leaders called upon all democratic forces to oppose this devious and retrograde move.
