NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LABOUR PROPOSES CONSOLIDATION
OF LABOUR LAWS
The Second
National Commission on Labour has proposed enactment of seven
new labour laws in its Report presented to the Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee by the Chairman of the Commission Shri
Ravindra Varma here today. These include Labour Management Relations,
Wages, Occupational Safety and Health, Small Enterprises (Employment
Relations) Act, Hours of Work, Leave and Other Working Conditions
at Workplace, Child Labour and Unorganised Sector. It has proposed
a special Bill to be applicable to the Small Scale Industries
employing 19 workers or less.
The Commission
has also addressed itself to many points and problems that have
been subjects of debate in recent times after globalisation. Though
it has made recommendations on issues relating to contract labour
and need for permission from government for closure etc. and the
way in which the needs of industry and the basic rights and needs
of workers can be balanced while employing contract labour, the
Commission strongly feels that its proposal should be looked upon
as providing the base for a new edifice or a new era of industrial
relations. It has, therefore, pleaded strongly for a holistic
view, instead of a piecemeal approach of an amendment here and
there ignoring the chain consequences that follow from it.
The Commission
is of the view that the key to efficiency and competitiveness
lies in respecting the paradigms of independence and cooperation
among various social partners. It says competitiveness cannot
be acquired without harmonious or at least peaceful industrial
relations. According to the Commission the first requisite for
employers and employees is to develop a mindset that looks upon
each other as partners and to develop a work culture that new
technology and globalisation demands.
The Commission
has also given special consideration to the status of women workers,
the need to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities, to give
full recognition to their contribution and their status as workers.
The Commission has made a series of sector-wise recommendations
in this field.
Regarding
the unorganised sector, the Commission has concluded that a new
and separate umbrella legislation is imperative as the existing
laws do not offer protection and welfare to workers in the unorganised
sector who constitute the 92 per cent of the total work force.
As a minimum the Umbrella legislation should have a policy framework
that ensures the generation and protection of jobs as well as
access to them, protection against the exploitation of their poverty
and lack of organisation. It should also ensure their protection
against arbitrary or whimsical dismissals, denial of minimum wages
and delay in payment of wages. The Commission said that the social
security measures for unorganised workers should include health
care maternity and early child care, provident fund benefits,
family benefits, pensionery benefits, compensation for injuries
sustained while engaged in work and safety at work places.
