The Left Front government in Kerala today said labour laws should be implemented and workers' rights protected in the 500 Special Economic Zones in the country.

"The SEZs can no longer remain treasure islands free of labour laws. They already enjoy huge tax concessions given to them in the name of making indigenous industry globally competitive," Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said.

He was addressing delegates at the Eighth International Congress of Trade Unions on Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights (SIGTUR) here.

The chief minister admitted need of foreign investment in agriculture and industry in order to tackle unemployment but said no condition in any deal that could undermine the trade union movement would be acceptable.

On PSUs, he said that of 42 such undertakings, 29 have been made economically viable with full cooperation of trade unions of various affiliations.

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