Indian states waive labor laws under cover of coronavirus crisis

Workers in areas controlled by Modi's party likely to see 12-hour days

20200514 Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is encouraging easing of labor laws across India to jump-start an economy battered by the pandemic. (Nikkei Montage/Reuters)

KAPIL KAJAL and SAURABH SHARMA, Contributing writers

BANGALORE/LUCKNOW -- Workers in a number of Indian states where the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi rules are worried about business-friendly changes to labor laws.

Modi urged heads of the states last month to prompt Indian companies doing business in China to come home. Two days later, he chaired a meeting with the central cabinet to discuss how to attract foreign investors and promote local investment. The meeting focused on removing hurdles to starting a business.

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