MAY 10
Odisha, Goa go for 12-hour workdays, Karnataka may ease labour norms too
Odisha and Goa relaxed labour laws under the Factories Act of 1948 on Friday and approved 12-hour daily work shifts — four hours more than the current 8 hours — for three months due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Both states said the workers would be paid overtime for the extra hours.
“No worker shall be allowed or required to work in a factory more than 12 hours in any day and 72 hours in any week,” an official notification by the Odisha Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department said. It added that no worker would work for more than six hours before a half-hour rest.
MAY 11
BMS to oppose suspension of labour laws by some States
The RSS-affiliated workers’ organisation Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh on Monday asked its State units to oppose the “unilateral withdrawal of labour laws” that some States have implemented and others are considering.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bms-to-oppose-suspension-of-labour-laws-by-some-states/article31559722.ece
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/trade-unions-may-move-ilo-against-labour-law-changes/article31556244.ece
Experts back ‘bold’ labour reforms
“It is a good move. For the time we are giving the needed flexibility to employers. State governments, working in close cooperation with workers’ representative organisations, will ensure workers’ interests are protected while giving flexibility,” Rajiv Kumar, vice chairman of government think tank Niti Aayog, told TOI.
“A new beginning has been made and more states will hopefully follow,” he said.
Another top policymaker said the reforms will help the country get rid of archaic laws and make it an even more attractive investment destination. “These are the boldest and bravest reforms and will free the country from antiquated and outdated laws,” Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said. He said the proposed reforms were aimed at attracting global investments, protecting and creating jobs across states which have undertaken these reforms.
MAY 12
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Mahtab said, “We have written to the States seeking information related to the changes they have made in labour laws. They have utilised two instruments — using the executive order or ordinance. Whatever be the instrument, it has to get the sanction of the legislature and subsequently it will be scrutinised in the court of law.”
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/parliamentary-panel-questions-dilution-of-labour-laws/article31568334.ece
View: We will never get this opportunity for reforms again
By Amitabh Kant - VC NITI
India has so far had the most inflexible labour market regulations, which hindered large scale investments, productivity and enhancement, technology absorption and high employment growth in Indian manufacturing. This has been the main reason why our enterprises have remained small in size and scale, leading to high informal employment. Our migrant crisis is a consequence of laws that protected workers and not jobs, adversely impacting economies of scale and ensuring rampant informalisation.Several studies have shown that these laws hampered the ability of an enterprise to respond to changing business dynamics. Labour regulations with the intention of protecting the workers in the organised sector, were unintentionally preventing the expansion of industrial employment that could benefit a large mass of new workers.
MAY 13
The Puducherry Labour Department has temporarily extended working hours to 12 hours in a bid to boost efficiency of industries reopening with reduced workforce following gradual lifting of lockdown regulations.
MAY 15
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/10-unions-to-protest-against-labour-law-changes-on-may-22/article31595958.ece
MAY 17
U.P. withdraws notification on increased work hours
The decision was challenged in the Allahabad High Court through a petition by the U.P. Workers Front. After the court issued the State a notice in the matter, Suresh Chandra, principal secretary, Labour department, in an order dated May 15 directed the hief State counsel to inform the court that the notification to increase work hours was withdrawn.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/up-withdraws-notification-on-increased-work-hours/article31606886.ece
Odisha, Goa go for 12-hour workdays, Karnataka may ease labour norms too
Odisha and Goa relaxed labour laws under the Factories Act of 1948 on Friday and approved 12-hour daily work shifts — four hours more than the current 8 hours — for three months due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Both states said the workers would be paid overtime for the extra hours.
“No worker shall be allowed or required to work in a factory more than 12 hours in any day and 72 hours in any week,” an official notification by the Odisha Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department said. It added that no worker would work for more than six hours before a half-hour rest.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/odisha-goa-go-for-12-hour-workdays-karnataka-may-ease-labour-norms-too/articleshow/75653598.cms
MAY 11
BMS to oppose suspension of labour laws by some States
The RSS-affiliated workers’ organisation Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh on Monday asked its State units to oppose the “unilateral withdrawal of labour laws” that some States have implemented and others are considering.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bms-to-oppose-suspension-of-labour-laws-by-some-states/article31559722.ece
Trade unions may move ILO against labour law changes
Central trade unions consider these moves as an inhuman crime and brutality on the working people, besides being gross violation of the Right to Freedom of Association [ILO Convention 87], Rights to Collective Bargaining [ILO Convention 98] and also the internationally accepted norm of eight hour working day – espoused by core conventions of ILO. The ILO Convention 144 in regard to tripartism has also been undermined by the government,” it said.The statement was signed by representatives of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, the All-India Trade Union Congress, the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, the All-India United Trade Union Centre, the Trade Union Coordination Committee, the Self Employed Women’s Association, the All-India Central Council of Trade Unions, the Labour Progressive Federation and the United Trade Union Congress.https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/trade-unions-may-move-ilo-against-labour-law-changes/article31556244.ece
Experts back ‘bold’ labour reforms
“It is a good move. For the time we are giving the needed flexibility to employers. State governments, working in close cooperation with workers’ representative organisations, will ensure workers’ interests are protected while giving flexibility,” Rajiv Kumar, vice chairman of government think tank Niti Aayog, told TOI.
“A new beginning has been made and more states will hopefully follow,” he said.
Another top policymaker said the reforms will help the country get rid of archaic laws and make it an even more attractive investment destination. “These are the boldest and bravest reforms and will free the country from antiquated and outdated laws,” Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said. He said the proposed reforms were aimed at attracting global investments, protecting and creating jobs across states which have undertaken these reforms.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/experts-back-bold-labour-reforms/articleshow/75668802.cms
MAY 12
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Mahtab said, “We have written to the States seeking information related to the changes they have made in labour laws. They have utilised two instruments — using the executive order or ordinance. Whatever be the instrument, it has to get the sanction of the legislature and subsequently it will be scrutinised in the court of law.”
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/parliamentary-panel-questions-dilution-of-labour-laws/article31568334.ece
View: We will never get this opportunity for reforms again
By Amitabh Kant - VC NITI
India has so far had the most inflexible labour market regulations, which hindered large scale investments, productivity and enhancement, technology absorption and high employment growth in Indian manufacturing. This has been the main reason why our enterprises have remained small in size and scale, leading to high informal employment. Our migrant crisis is a consequence of laws that protected workers and not jobs, adversely impacting economies of scale and ensuring rampant informalisation.Several studies have shown that these laws hampered the ability of an enterprise to respond to changing business dynamics. Labour regulations with the intention of protecting the workers in the organised sector, were unintentionally preventing the expansion of industrial employment that could benefit a large mass of new workers.
The good thing about the new initiative is that all clauses related to minimum wages, the number of hours, safety and security measures have been kept fully functional; those related to child and bonded labour will also remain applicable. Another important feature that states must ensure is that terminated employees must get 45 days’ worth of salary for every year of work, as has been done in the case of Gujarat for SEZs.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/view-we-will-never-get-this-opportunity-for-reforms-again/articleshow/75688771.cms
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/view-we-will-never-get-this-opportunity-for-reforms-again/articleshow/75688771.cms
MAY 13
The Puducherry Labour Department has temporarily extended working hours to 12 hours in a bid to boost efficiency of industries reopening with reduced workforce following gradual lifting of lockdown regulations.
A notification from the department said that the work hours have been revised from eight to 12 hours for a period of three months.
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/puducherry-revises-working-hours-from-eight-to-12/article31570297.ece
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/puducherry-revises-working-hours-from-eight-to-12/article31570297.ece
MAY 15
10 unions to protest against labour law changes on May 22
Ten central trade unions said on Friday that it would stage a nationwide protest on May 22 against the changes in labour laws in several States.
In a joint statement, the unions said they would also send a representation to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the “violations being committed by the Government of India in regard to all the international commitments to labour standards and human rights”.
The suspension of a large number of labour laws for three years by Uttar Pradesh and the Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to allow companies to “hire and fire” workers at will marked the second stage of anti-worker steps after Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and Punjab increased the daily working hours from eight to 12, the unions said.
The unions are the Indian National Trade Union Congress, the All India Trade Union Congress, the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, the All India United Trade Union Centre, the Trade Union Coordination Committee, the Self Employed Women’s Association, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions, the Labour Progressive Federation and the United Trade Union Congress.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/10-unions-to-protest-against-labour-law-changes-on-may-22/article31595958.ece
MAY 17
U.P. withdraws notification on increased work hours
The decision was challenged in the Allahabad High Court through a petition by the U.P. Workers Front. After the court issued the State a notice in the matter, Suresh Chandra, principal secretary, Labour department, in an order dated May 15 directed the hief State counsel to inform the court that the notification to increase work hours was withdrawn.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/up-withdraws-notification-on-increased-work-hours/article31606886.ece
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