As India braces for a countrywide shutdown on Thursday, a key player has defected. The National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU) in Karnataka rejected the Bharat Bandh spearheaded by 10 central unions against supposed labor-hostile policies, instead throwing its weight behind New Delhi’s initiatives.
In an IANS interview, NFITU chief V. Venkatesh dismissed the strike as a political stunt. ‘Our unions have been told to keep working,’ he affirmed, crediting government reforms for worker welfare. He slammed left-leaning parties for hijacking the narrative.
Venkatesh enthusiastically backed the four Labor Codes, commending PM Modi, Labor Minister Mandaviya, and official Vandana Gurnani. The uniform Wage Code resolves a decades-old anomaly, he said. Post a January 16 discussion with Mandaviya, he advocated expanding Provident Fund caps.
A standout reform, per Venkatesh, is fixed-term traineeships ensuring gratuity— a shift from past discard-after-training norms. ‘Dialogue is on the table; strikes are unnecessary,’ he urged, pointing to unions skipping ministerial meets.
He forecasted limited adherence, sparing most public and private sectors, though some left-linked outfits may disrupt. The striking unions counter that services from finance to water supply face interruptions, but NFITU’s stance signals growing acceptance of reforms amid polarized calls.