The Congress lashed out at the state governments for amendment of the labour laws saying labourers could not be subjected to exploitation.
“Many states are amending their labour laws to help businesses restart. While we are all working together to battle the Coronavirus, this battle can’t be an excuse to trample on human rights, allow unsafe work spaces, exploit workers & silence their voice.
“There can be no compromise on these fundamental principles,” Congress former President Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet on Monday.
The issue could lead to another face-off between the government and the opposition after the migrant labourers issue.
The Uttar Pradesh government on May 8 had finalised an ordinance suspending a majority of the labour laws in the state for three years.
According to sources, there are more than 40 kinds of labour laws in the labour department, some of which are now redundant. About eight of them are being retained under the ordinance.
Similarly, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced wide-ranging changes in the labour laws to stimulate economic activity in the state.
Assam government has also decided to increase working hours of the labourers from eight hours to 12 hours.
Since labour is a concurrent subject, states can frame their own laws, but will need the approval of the Centre to enforce them.