Jeypore, 3rd Nov 2025: On the occasion of the 106th foundation day of AITUC at Jeypore in Koraput district, senior labor leader Mik Yudhishthir Raul hoisted the red flag at the local workers’ building. After this, the gathered employees marched around the city carrying the organizational banner and submitted a memorandum of demands to the Joint Commissioner.
Recently, the state Chief Minister stated in a press release that the daily working hours, which are currently 8 hours, will be increased to 10 hours, and female employees in business establishments, offices, and institutions may also have to work at night. Internationally, following long struggles, the 8-hour workday has been maintained.
For the benefit and under pressure from the corporate world, both the Modi government and the Mohan Majhi government are planning to implement a 10-hour workday. Large company owners are also devising ways to make employees work 1–2 extra hours. AITUC along with other labor organizations in the state and country have strongly opposed this.
It has also been noted that unemployment has increased. Meanwhile, outsourcing and contract work continue. Therefore, instead of increasing work hours, employees are demanding a reduction of daily work to 6 hours to create more employment opportunities. The state has also announced that laws will be enacted to ensure that women are not made to work at night in offices, businesses, or institutions unless it is safe.
Mohan Majhi’s government has declared this plan, which has been strongly opposed, and a memorandum regarding the Chief Minister’s decision was submitted through founder Brindaban Sethi. AITUC state committee member Pramod Kumar has stated that if the state government does not withdraw this decision, there will be a three-day mass protest in the state capital Bhubaneswar on December 3, 4, and 5.
Alongside discussions with DLSC officials, issues concerning workers’ problems and labor cards were also addressed. Today’s protest was led by Uttam Mallik, Ramakrishna Das, Sudarshan Bishoyi, Basant Behera, Damuni Shantamani Khara, Pramila Bhumia, and others, with Kumar Pramukh coordinating the event.
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