Labour reforms on anvil; overtime limit to double
Updated: Jul 07, 2014 05:31:04pm
New Delhi, Jul 7 (KNN) The government today said it has made a comprehensive plan to amend the Factories Act 1948 to usher in the much needed labour reforms. The proposal includes allowing night shift for women and increasing overtime limit for starters.
This information was given by Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Vishnu Deo Sai in Lok Sabha today.
The major amendments proposed include: “Relaxation of restrictions on night work for women in factories subject to certain conditions; Increase in limit of overtime to 100 hours (existing 50 hours) in a quarter; Introduction of a new Sub section regarding compounding of offences; Provisions of Personal Protective Equipment for safety of Workers/ More precautions against fumes and gases; and Empowerment of Central Government to make Rules (presently only State Governments make Rules),” said Sai in a written reply.
As per the National Sample Survey Organization data, total number of workforce in the country in 2009-10 was 46.5 crore. Out of this about 2.8 crore (6 per cent) was in the organized sector and the balance 43.7 crore (94 per cent) was in the unorganized sector. Most of the labour laws are applicable to the organized sector only which comprises about 6 per cent of the total workforce, he said.
The Minister went on to say that in the process of amendments to the Factories Act, 1948, the Government had set up in 2011 an expert committee headed by Doctor Narendra Jadhav, then member of Planning Commission. The expert committee had a series of meetings involving the employees and workers associations (trade union) during January to March, 2011. The suggestions of the trade unions representatives and employers’ representatives had been considered by the expert committee. The report of expert committee was also placed in the public domain along with the proposed amendments in September, 2011.
The draft amendments now proposed by the Government include the outcome of the Inter-ministerial Consultations, comments of the state governments and views of the trade unions representatives and employers representatives expressed during the above meetings. (KNN/ES)
This information was given by Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Vishnu Deo Sai in Lok Sabha today.
The major amendments proposed include: “Relaxation of restrictions on night work for women in factories subject to certain conditions; Increase in limit of overtime to 100 hours (existing 50 hours) in a quarter; Introduction of a new Sub section regarding compounding of offences; Provisions of Personal Protective Equipment for safety of Workers/ More precautions against fumes and gases; and Empowerment of Central Government to make Rules (presently only State Governments make Rules),” said Sai in a written reply.
As per the National Sample Survey Organization data, total number of workforce in the country in 2009-10 was 46.5 crore. Out of this about 2.8 crore (6 per cent) was in the organized sector and the balance 43.7 crore (94 per cent) was in the unorganized sector. Most of the labour laws are applicable to the organized sector only which comprises about 6 per cent of the total workforce, he said.
The Minister went on to say that in the process of amendments to the Factories Act, 1948, the Government had set up in 2011 an expert committee headed by Doctor Narendra Jadhav, then member of Planning Commission. The expert committee had a series of meetings involving the employees and workers associations (trade union) during January to March, 2011. The suggestions of the trade unions representatives and employers’ representatives had been considered by the expert committee. The report of expert committee was also placed in the public domain along with the proposed amendments in September, 2011.
The draft amendments now proposed by the Government include the outcome of the Inter-ministerial Consultations, comments of the state governments and views of the trade unions representatives and employers representatives expressed during the above meetings. (KNN/ES)
Loading...
