Govt mulls consolidating labour laws

With more than 40 laws governing different aspects of labour, the government is mulling consolidating these laws into a few selected categories to reduce multiplicity and disputes in their application.

"The objective is to bring in greater compliance and improve implementation of the laws through the process of consolidation," a Labour and Employment Ministry official said.

The implementation of the Labour Acts has led to several instances where disputes have arisen over the applicability of acts to separate classes of establishments and different categories of workers.

The proposal for consolidation will come up for discussion at the 44th Session of Standing Labour Committee to be held here tomorrow.

The Committee traditionally approves the agenda for the Indian Labour Conference.

At present, there are 44 different central labour laws concerning different aspects such as industrial relations, wages, working hours, conditions of service and employment, social security, labour welfare, employment and training, etc.

"It is for consideration only if important labour laws can be consolidated," the official said, adding they could be consolidated into four categories.

The issue had earlier been deliberated in several fora such as in the first and second National Commission on Labour, Hoda Committee, State Labour Ministers Conference and Indian Labour Conference, etc, they said.