Trade unions sound alarm over Supreme Court judgment on definition of industry

Trade unions have sounded the alarm over the Supreme Court's recent judgment regarding the definition of industry as per a 1978 ruling. The nine-judge bench's decision has implications for the newly enacted Industrial Relations Code, which the unions argue unfairly favors institutional and managerial interests over workers' collective rights and bargaining power.

All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Amarjeet Kaur expressed deep concern over the majority judges leaving crucial questions for future litigation instead of addressing the consequences of the narrower and exclusionary architecture of Section 2(p) of the Industrial Relations Code. The code's exemptions for sovereign functions and charitable, social, or philanthropic institutions need to be interpreted strictly and constitutionally compatible.

CITU general secretary Elamaram Kareem highlighted that the judgment has granted immunity to the Industrial Relations Code from the expansive definition of 'industry' established in 1978, questioning the class character of the majority bench's decision, which appears aligned with the pro-corporate philosophy of the government. Trade Union Centre of India president Fredy K. Thazhath stated that the verdict has further weakened labor protections, making workers vulnerable to turbulence and endangering labor peace.