Centre drops proposal to bar outsiders from leading trade unions

Experts cite 2012 violence at Maruti's Manesar plant as fallout of inexperienced union leadership

The Union government has dropped a proposal to allow only employees working in factories becoming office-bearers of trade unions in those units.

The government had proposed the move in the Code on Industrial Relations Bill, 2015, in an attempt to keeping a check on “politicisation of trade unions”. However, the central trade unions viewed this as an attack on the trade union movement and said the government should not interfere in composition of unions.

“The provisions on restricting outsiders from becoming office-bearers in trade unions have been dropped following widespread consultations and studies on best international practices. All the countries