Srinagar: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Friday marked the International Labour Day here with a call for unity, rights and social justice.
The CITU organised a workers’ gathering here to mark the Day, paying tributes to the struggles of the working class and renewing the call to defend labour rights in the face of emerging challenges, a CITU spokesman said.
The CITU leaders said that May Day stands as a symbol of workers’ unity, resilience and their enduring struggle for dignity and justice.
Addressing the gathering, CITU Jammu and Kashmir president and Kulgam MLA M Y Tarigami described the day as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by workers across the globe who fought against exploitation, oppression and inhuman working conditions.
“Workers once toiled for 17 to 18 hours a day under extremely harsh conditions. The rights we speak of today — whether it is regulated working hours, fair wages or basic protections — were not handed over benevolently; they were achieved through relentless struggle, unity and sacrifice,” he said.
Tarigami said that May Day is not merely a commemoration of past struggles but a call to action, and urged workers and society at large to recommit to the ideals of social justice, dignity of labour, equitable distribution of wealth and inclusive development.
He vehemently opposed the “anti-working class policies pursued by the BJP-led government” and appealed for the revocation of four labour codes implemented recently, which are “detrimental to the interests of the labour force”.
