Contract workers: Govt to resolve tug of war between employers and unions

The present law suggests a firm cannot hire contract workers in jobs perennial in nature or round-the-clock

The Union government’s move to allow industries to hire contract workers in ancillary businesses and non-core activity has not found takers among both employers and trade unions.

The labour and employment ministry held a discussion on January 19 with businesses and unions on its proposals to amend the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. In a bid to strike a balance between the contrasting demands, the government had proposed amending Section 10 of the Act that deals with abolishing of contract workers as and when demanded by the workers.

The aim of the 1970 Act is “to regulate the