The Union labour and employment ministry wrote to Andhra Pradesh government, asking the state to expedite the increase in the daily working limit to 12 hours and to introduce fixed-term employment. The move has come under heavy criticism from trade unions and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the labour arm of RSS.
While addressing a press conference on the Atmanirbhar package last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government is working on combining 35-odd labour laws into four codes. She clarified that the Government would do it through the normal procedure in Parliament and not take the Ordinance route.
While presenting the measures in the #EconomicPackage, FM @NSitharaman shed light on the #LabourCode. Here’s all you need to know.#20LakhCrores #AatmanirbharBharatPackage #LabourLawshttps://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/policy/proposed-labour-code-offers-universal-minimum-income-modifies-definition-of-migrant-workers-nirmala-sitharaman-5267361.html Proposed Labour Code offers universal minimum income, modifies definition of migrant workers: FM…In her second press briefing, Sitharaman’s announcements focused on migrants, street vendors, small farmers, small traders and the self-employed.moneycontrol.com47:19 PM – May 14, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee moneycontrol’s other Tweets
However, it has failed to do so in the past. We have seen that since 2014 whenever the Central government wasnt able to implement the changes to the labour laws at the central level it shifts the onus on to the state governments. The States have been able to primarily drive some of the contentious labour law changes in the past, labour economist and XLRI professor KR Shyam Sundar said.
The Centre is pushing States to undertake labour law reforms, as it stays away from the ordinance route. The Central Governments proposal to State Governments to increase working hours has already been taken up by upto 10 states, who have increased working hours from 8 to 12 hours. These include Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, MP, Uttarakhand, Assam, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Several states extend working hours from 8 to 12 hours in factorieshttps://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/states-extend-working-hours-from-8-to-12-hours-in-factories/articleshow/75342462.cms Several states extend working hours from 8 to 12 hours in factoriesThis is expected to boost manufacturing and supply of essential goods and services without violating the home ministrys guidelines on working with reduced staff to maintain social distancing to curb…economictimes.indiatimes.com23:23 PM – Apr 24, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Ashok Panvalkar’s other Tweets
A letter sent by the Union labour and employment ministry to the Andhra Pradesh government has asked the State to expedite the increase in the daily working limit to 12 hours from eight and to introduce fixed-term employment to address Covid-19. Some State governments like Assam are initiating steps to change the labour laws in the same manner as was proposed in the letter sent by the Union labour secretary to the AP government.
The Central government is pushing the State governments to undertake labour law reforms, even as it is not willing to take the Ordinance route to codify the laws.https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/centre-passes-the-baton-on-to-states-for-initiating-labour-law-reforms-120052001439_1.html Centre passes the baton on to States for initiating labour law reformsIt is pushing the states to undertake they reforms without taking the Ordinance route to codify the lawsbusiness-standard.com569:39 AM – May 21, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy33 people are talking about this
The move by states has come into heavy criticism from central trade unions who have opposed the move. Some of the orders have even been challenged in courts and a legal battle is set to follow. Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the labour arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has asked the Centre to intervene to stop the state governments from making changes in labour laws against the interest of workers.
The BMS said that the workers affiliated to the organisation held protests in mines in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, besides a number of public sector units. The BMS also raised the issue of massive job losses as well as few state governments allowing the increase in working hours, said general secretary Vrijesh Upadhyay.
The New Indian Express✔@NewIndianXpress
Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the labour arm of RSS, held a nationwide protest, ” to raise the issue of the plight of migrant workers” and the dilution of labour laws. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/21/bharatiya-mazdoor-sangh-protests-over-dilution-of-labour-laws-2146052.html Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh protests over dilution of labour lawsThe BMS also asked the Centre to intervene to stop the state governments from making changes in labour laws against the interest of workers.newindianexpress.com72:05 PM – May 21, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee The New Indian Express’s other Tweets
Days after some Indian states introduced changes to labour laws in a bid to revive the economy, the World Banks India director said it is important that labour policies of the Centre and states meet and help labourers work in better conditions. Commenting on the recent changes in labour laws, World Banks India country director Junaid Kamal Ahmad said, There were changes at the state level and there have been changes at the national level. I think it is very important that the two must meet.
South Gujarat Info – ?????? ??????@SouthGujarat
Centre, state laws must strengthen labour laws to help migrant workers: World Bank https://southgujaratinfo.in/centre-state-laws-must-strengthen-labour-laws-to-help-migrant-workers-world-bank/ Centre, state laws must strengthen labour laws to help migrant workers: World Bank – ?????? ??????While the World Bank India director did not comment on the labour laws changed by some state governments to kickstart the economy, he said the correlation between central and state-level labour laws…southgujaratinfo.in2:24 PM – May 15, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee South Gujarat Info – ?????? ??????’s other Tweets
As more states carry on law changes, the criticism from the opposition parties and trade unions is getting louder, and a plea has even reached the Supreme Court, against labour law dilution.
This article was first published in Arre