International Labour Organisation writes to PM Modi, says India should uphold labour laws
This comes after 10 central trade unions lodged a joint complaint with the international body over some BJP-ruled states allowing complete exemption from labour laws for new establishments to attract investments and most states increasing the work hours from 8 hr to 12 hrs in single shifts.
by ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: Codifying 44 labour laws into four codes is a big step towards labour reforms, labour minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar told ET, but refused to be drawn into controversy around International Labour Organisation (ILO) raising the issue of the labour reforms by some states.
The labour unions have opposed the reforms and had asked the ILO to take up the issue with Indian government.
In a letter dated May 22, the ILO has assured the labour unions of support and that it has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issue with state governments.
"Codifying 44 labour laws into four codes is government's big step towards labour reforms. We hope to see two of these four codes coming back to the Parliament from standing committee in the next session," Gangwar told ET.
Gangwar, however, refused to comment on the ILO letter to PM saying he has not seen it.
Of the four labour codes, the one on wages has been approved by the Parliament and has been notified by the government.
The code on industrial relations, on occupational safety, health and working conditions are with the standing committee on labour while that on social security will go to the committee, the minister said, adding this is itself showed government's commitment toward labour reforms.
“Please allow me to assure you that the ILO Director-General (Guy Ryder) has immediately intervened, expressing his deep concern at these recent events and appealing to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) to send a clear message to Central and State governments to uphold the country’s international commitments and encourage engagement in effective social dialogue,” Karen Curtis, ILO’s Chief of Freedom of Association Branch under the International Labour Standards Department, said.
ILO's letter was in response to a joint complaint to ILO Director General by 10 labour unions after some states made changes to labour laws. Uttar Pradesh raised shift hours to 12 from 8, but the state subsequently withdrew the order following protests from RSS-affiliated labour union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.
These labour unions have maintained that the states governments did not consult them before announcing such drastic changes, which they said were against the interest of workers.
Governments are mandated to consult labour unions on changes to labour laws as per ILO framework. These unions had held a nationwide protest last week on the issue after filing a formal complaint with the ILO.
UNIONS WRITE TO ILO AGAIN
These trade unions again shot off a joint complaint to ILO on Monday seeking a stronger intervention from the multilateral body to restrain the Indian government from carrying out unilateral changes to labour laws.
They have also raised the issue of migrant workers and their plight with ILO. India has seen largescale reverse migration with workers returning to their home states following the nationwide lockdown announced to counter Covid19 outbreak.