MP to amend labour laws

Madhya Pradesh Labour Minister Antar Singh Arya said on Sunday the state government would amend certain provisions in the labour law to “maintain harmony between labourers and employers” in the state.

The labour department on Sunday announced various awards and scholarships for labourers, their children, and employers, too. Besides, the state government would soon constitute a board for workers in the unorganised sector in both rural and urban areas.

While the labour minister did not disclose which of the labour laws would be amended, experts feel the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Relations Act 1960, which in its present form has stringent provisions, could be the one the government is planning to amend. Notably, in most cases, disputes arise out of violation of this Act.

According to the annual report tabled in the state Assembly recently by the labour department, there were as many as 10 strikes by workers during 2013-14 (till December 2013) in the state. The number of strikes was four during 2009-10, six during 2010-11, eighteen during 2011-12, and 20 during 2012-13. Arya said on various occasions such as the Global Investors Summit, employers, particularly in the private-sector, had demanded that the age-old labour laws be amended to reflect the current reality as well as the dynamics of the market.

The minister said a change in labour laws would help “both labourers and the employers”. Private-sector jobs are crucial because it is not possible to give government jobs to everyone, Arya added.

“Scholarships to sons and daughters of labourers as well as recognition to employers have been initiated for the first time. It would help strengthen employer-labourer relations further,” he noted.

Muktesh Varshney, principal secretary in the labour department, observed that there have been cases of employers encroaching upon the financial and other securities of the labourers. This will not be allowed, he said, adding that the government would do everything to avoid situations that create dispute between employers and labourers.

Business chambers such as Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Sangh, Confederation of Indian Industry, Mandideep Industries Association, Govindpura Industries Association, Madhya Pradesh Textile Industry Association, etc, have oft-repeated the demand to maintain minimum wages at par with those of other states.