Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) places on record its appreciation on the bold stand taken by the Central Government on the issues related to labour which are raised by the BMS through countrywide protest.
Honourable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi in his speech on stimulus package gave thrust to labour, farmers and small scale industries which are a deviation from his predecessor’s economic packages which were benefiting big business houses and corporates. BMS raised the same 3 issues before the policy makers as the pillars of the development.
The Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitaraman during her declarations on the financial package categorically said Government will not take the ordinance route for a change of labour laws; which is a clear reply to the four states that took ordinance route to change labour law. Shri. Rajeev Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Ayog also had expressed the view of NITI Ayog that “reforms do not mean complete abolition of labour laws”.
The officials of the Government like Labour Ministry also have objected the states’ ordinance route on the suspension of labour laws. The latest being, the Union Labour Minister Shri Santosh Gangwar also has said the complete suspension is not labour reforms based on settled national and international positions. All these exposes the blunder of ordinance route adopted by four states and a clear direction that it is time to withdraw the ordinances.
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat states have brought ordinances to suspend labour laws and Kerala Government brought ordinance to nullify a High Court order prohibiting compulsorily cut of one month’s salary of its employees.
Further, the trend of increasing working hours from eight hours to twelve hours was started by Rajasthan Government and adopted by nearly fifteen state Governments. Now the reverse trend of “correcting the mistake” has started with first UP Government reverting back to 8 hours followed by Rajasthan Government. BMS demands other state governments also to follow it.
India should not discard its noble tradition of social dialogue and Governments should not be shy of talking to trade unions. Every change in labour laws should be made only by consulting with trade unions. BMS will continue to exhaust all democratic means to persuade governments to address the concerns raised by it.
BMS welcomes the UP Government setting up a migrant commission; but without trade union representatives it will remain an exercise merely to supply “cheap labour” to industries, looking at the general attitude of the policy advisors in the Government. The State Government needs to redraft the terms of reference to include dignified treatment to migrant labours.
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