Labour law changes mooted to make it contemporary: Dattatreya

The proposed changes in the labour laws by the Centre will make them contemporary and promote ease of running enterprises while enhancing retrenchment benefits to workers in case of a lockout, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said today.
"Many Acts were made 50 or 60 years ago. Trade Union Act was made in 1925. They need to be changed. Change means they have to be simplified. Enforcement (of laws) is important. We are trying to bring in changes to remove duplication and cumbersome processes," the MoS for Labour (Independent charge) told PTI here in an interview.
The minister said the changes will help a worker get wages for 45 days up from present 15 days in case of a lockout.

"If any factory is to be closed down, it is important to take care of the security of workers. I cannot save the industry then, but what I can do is, see that the worker gets wages for 45 days. It was 15 days earlier. We are creating this window in the interest of workers when such a situation arises," he said.
When asked if proposed changes will make it easier for companies to carry out retrenchment of workers, Dattatreya said the government is trying to see that workers get a better deal in the event of a lockout being announced.

"A factory announces lockout with no option having been left. Law is also like that. No law is (meant) for closing down an industry. That's why employability is important. Wages are likely to rise commensurate with the employability. Whatever law we bring, it is in workers' interest; to see that employability grows," he said.

Changes in laws are important to create jobs, facilitate investments and to make NDA government's flagship programmes 'Make in India' and 'Skill India' a success, he said.
"Youth force is growing in this country. If jobs are to be created for them, then laws should also be easy for industries. Then they can make investments. 'Make in India', 'Skill India' are going to assume significance. Accordingly, some changes are necessary in laws. Laws should be in tune with the times. Otherwise, it would be difficult for implementation. We are making laws accordingly," he said.

The Union Minister pointed out that whatever laws are made by the Centre, the responsibility of their actual implementation lies with the state governments.
"...Telangana government has to decide about retrenchment. They (states) make laws as per the prevailing working conditions and circumstances," he said.