Parliament Winter Session Day 3: INDIA Bloc to Protest Labour Codes as Key Bills Come Up

New Delhi. Dec 03 : Parliament is set to begin proceedings for Day 3 of the Winter Session on Wednesday, with both the government and the Opposition preparing for a busy day. Even as the Centre has agreed to schedule a debate on electoral reforms later this week, the INDIA bloc will kick off the day with a protest outside Parliament against the newly implemented Labour Codes, signalling a potentially combative atmosphere.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore, who has moved an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha seeking discussion on the Codes, said the Opposition would escalate its campaign. “We are going to protest outside Parliament against the Labour Codes,” he told ANI.

The demonstrations follow a turbulent Tuesday, when repeated disruptions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls stalled the Lok Sabha.

Opposition sharpens attack on Labour Codes

The Centre has brought all four Labour Codes   the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020) — into effect from November 21, consolidating 29 earlier labour laws.

While the government has highlighted reforms such as timely wages, safeguards for women in night shifts, and social security for gig workers, the Opposition has criticised the Codes as anti-worker. Kerala Congress leader K. Muraleedharan has termed them “anti-national”, and Kerala Labour Minister V. Sivankutty has said the state will not implement them.

The Industrial Relations Code, which recognises unions with 51% membership as the Negotiating Union, has drawn political attention for expanding the definition of a strike to include mass casual leave.

SIR debate lined up after Opposition pressure

Tagore also accused the Centre of refusing discussion on the SIR exercise for months, alleging that questions around “vote chori” were repeatedly ignored. “At last, they have to accept the truth that the right to vote is under threat,” he said.

Following Opposition pressure, the government has scheduled a 10-hour debate on electoral reforms for December 9 and a discussion on 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ on December 8.

Lok Sabha may take up Central Excise Amendment Bill

According to the day’s listed business, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposing higher excise duties and cesses on tobacco products. The Lok Sabha is also expected to receive a message from the Rajya Sabha on the Manipur GST (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi will move for the House’s approval of the Eleventh Report of the Business Advisory Committee.

Parliamentary committees to present reports

Members Balashowry Vallabhaneni and Vivek Thakur will table reports on subordinate legislation under the Railways Ministry and the Fisheries Department. The Lok Sabha will also make an obituary reference to former Congress MP Rameshwar Dudi.

Water Act resolution listed in Rajya Sabha

In the Upper House, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav is scheduled to move a statutory resolution to adopt the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, in Manipur.

Both Houses are aiming for smooth proceedings today, following floor leaders’ agreement on Tuesday to minimise disruptions.