RS passes bill to simplify certain labour laws

Amid strong opposition from the Left parties, Rajya Sabha today passed a bill that aims to simplify labour law procedures and also exempt filing of returns and maintainance of records to establishments employing upto 40 workers.
The Labour Law Amendment Bill 2011 aims to benefit establishments employing upto 40 workers in maintaining registers and submitting returns electronically under 16 labour laws instead of nine laws.
The bill was passed in the Upper House through a division vote with 49 members casting in favour of amendments, while 19 of them against them. The bill was passed amid a walk out by CPI, CPI (M) and JD(U) members.

Replying to clarifications sought by members, Labour Minister Bandaru Datta said, "There is some kind of misinformation about the bill.... The amendments are only for simplification of procedures. It is nothing anti-labour."
After labour laws are simplified, the government would be taking further action in the interest of workers. "Our policy is pro-people. Our government is committed to labour reforms," he said.
Opposing the bill, Left members including D Raja and Tapan Kumar insisted that the government not expand the definition of 'small establishments' as those which employ upto 40 workers for being eligible for exemption of filing of returns and maintainance of registers. Instead, they sought upper limit of workers to be kept at 14 in an establishment.

Currently, the labour law has limited application for providing exemption of filing returns and record keeping to establishments employing upto 19 workers.
The amendment bill aims to prescribe user-friendly forms and provide for maintainance of registers or records of establishments in computer, floppy or other electronic media and submit the returns via e-mail.