NEW DELHI, Nov 28: A bill which seeks to streamline labour laws by exempting large number of small establishments from furnishing returns and maintaining registers was today approved by Parliament, amid government’s assurance that interests of unorganised workers would be protected.
The Labour Laws (Exemption from Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Amendment Bill, 2011 was approved by Lok Sabha after rejection of amendments moved by Saugata Roy (TMC). The bill was earlier passed by Rajya Sabha.
TMC, Congress and CPI-M opposed the bill.
Moving the bill for consideration and passage, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya assured the House that the government is committed to protect the interests of unorganised workers.
He said his government would do everything to protect the rights of the workers, while pursuing reforms to create more employment opportunities.
The bill provides for changes in the original Act of 1988 to increase the number of laws under which small establishments are exempt from furnishing returns and maintaining registers from 9 to 16.
It amends the definition of ‘small’ establishments to cover units employing between 10 to 40 workers as against the limit of 19 workers at present.
The seven Acts that are added to the list include the Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, and the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996.
Earlier, Saugata Roy of TMC opposed the bill, terming it against the interest of workers when their rights are already not being “protected” especially in small scale industries.
He agreed with the need for making labour laws more simple and urged government to give exemption to those factories employing up to 25 persons and not 40.
Sankar Prasad Datta (CPI-M) also opposed the bill by terming as “pro-corporate”.
K Suresh (Cong) too opposed the bill, saying it was pro-business and anti-workers.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said inspectors were in all departments and it would be wrong to single out labour officials.
Hukum Singh (BJP) said the new law will help end the “inspector raj” which has resulted in “closure” of a large number of small scale workshops across the country.
“The government should bring more amendments to make laws more friendly for employment. We need facilitators not regulators.”
AIADMK and TRS supported the bill. (PTI)
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