Guwahati May Day rallyists seek pay parity, protection of workers’ rights

Guwahati: A major rally was organised in the Panbazar area on International Labour Day under a presidium comprising representatives from multiple trade unions. The rally drew large numbers of workers and activists, swelling into a significant gathering as it progressed.Participants raised slogans demanding stronger protection of workers’ rights and changes to labour policy. “We demand the scrapping of the four labour codes, implementation of equal pay for equal work. We also condemn the reported police action against striking workers in the Noida industrial area, it was very unjust,” said Biren Sarma, general council member of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).Union members criticised recent labour policies and flagged growing challenges for workers in both organised and unorganised sectors, calling for stronger legal safeguards, fair wages and dignified working conditions.The central observance in Guwahati was held at Pabazar Chariali, where veteran trade union leader Comrade Manoranjan Das, a former BSNL employee, hoisted the red flag. Floral tributes were paid to martyrs of the labour movement by senior AITUC leader Comrade Chakreswar Kalita.Similar May Day programmes were held at multiple locations across the region, with hundreds of workers joining rallies in front of the IOC Bottling Plant at North Guwahati, Sarpara in Mirza, and the Export Promotion Industrial Park at Amingaon.