Unions to press Labour Ministry to drop hire-fire clause

In a meeting with the government tomorrow, trade unions have decided to strongly oppose the new proposals in the Industrial relations bill, which makes firing of employees easier and forming of unions difficult.
Labour Ministry will hold a meeting with trade unions' representatives and employers tomorrow in the capital on the the draft Labour Code on Industrial Relations Bill, 2015.
The bill proposes to combine Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, Trade Unions Act, 1926, and Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.
Central trade unions, including the BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) said they will strongly oppose the proposals, saying they deprive workers of their basic rights.

"There are certain clauses which are against workers, like hire and fire clause and tougher rules for forming unions. We will strongly protest against these provisions," said Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh President B N Rai who will attend the meeting told PTI.
Rai said they got the copy of the draft bill four days ago and discussions are scheduled for tomorrow.

"Government should have given us ample time before holding tripartite discussions on it," he said. "If the government would be adamant then we would have to take strong decision in the national convention of central trade unions on May 26."

This strong decision could be nation wide protest, strike and gherao Parliament, Rai added.
Besides, unions are also concerned about categories of workers and relief available under the labour laws.
"At present, there are many classes of workers, including regular, temporary, daily wagers and contract workers. There should only be two categories -- permanent and temporary."
The Code on Industrial Relations Bill, 2015 is one of the initiative of the government to subsume 44 labour laws into five broad codes, dealing with industrial relation, wages, social security, industrial safety and welfare.
At present, firms employing 100 or more workers are required to seek government's permission for retrenchment under the Industrial Dispute Act.

"The new bill will make it difficult to form unions as it require more number people to be applicants at the time of registering a union," he said.