Amendments To Labour Laws In Monsoon Session Of Parliament

Amendments to the Industrial Disputes Act (IDA) and the Contract Labour Act will be brought during the monsoon session of Parliament, despite the Second National Commission still working towards omnibus amendments to labour laws to bring them in line with the demands of liberalisation.

"The legislation, the provisions of which will apply to industrial units employing not less than 1000 workers instead of 100, will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament," labour minister Satyanarayan Jatiya said at a press conference.

Most central trade unions, including RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have opposed the changes on the grounds that they are anti-worker. Jatiya, however, sought to allay apprehensions in this regard asserting that no steps would be taken against the interest of workers.

He said the labour ministry would consider all aspects before implementing the policy as 80 per cent of the units came under the category where the number of workers was below 1000.

He also said the government was contemplating creation of a Rs 150 crore welfare fund for agricultural workers who constitute 60 per cent of the unorganised sector.