Failure to enforce labour laws leads to Manesar-like violence, says Mallikarjun Kharge

NEW DELHI: The Centre has blamed corporates for recent incidents of workers' agitation across the country, including the violent flare up at Maruti Suzuki's plant in Haryana, claiming that failure to enforce labour laws has led to such situations.

"Enforcement of labour laws has to be followed strictly. Failure in this area has led to the recent flaring up of incidents like Maruti Suzuki in Haryana, Regency Ceramics, Yanam, Puducherry and Neyveli Liginite Limited in Tamil Nadu," Union labour and employment minister Mallikarjun Kharge said at the state labour minister's conference held in the capital.

The minister said that employers should not turn a blind eye towards labour statutes and at the same time workers, too, should refrain from taking law in their own hands. "Employers and workers should conduct themselves in such a way that they earn the respect of the whole world," Kharge said.

Unrest at Maruti Suzuki's plant in Manesar over pending increments flared up earlier this year claiming one life and leading to disruption of work. Drawing lessons from the bitter encounter, Maruti Suzuki has recently announced a wage hike of 50% for workers at its Gurgaon plant and is also working out a deal for Manesar.

Respect for industrial democracy and aiming towards high industrial growth have to go hand in hand. "Our trade union movement has a proud legacy and entrepreneurs of our country are respected the world over. The need is to ensure a healthy social dialogue," the minister added.

The labour ministry has been regularly communicating with state governments to stress upon the need for effective implementation of labour laws.

He said legislation related to minimum wages, contract labour, industrial disputes and working conditions in the factories affect the life of the working class in a very significant way touching the lives of the deprived and marginal sections of the society.

He said legislation related to minimum wages, contract labour, industrial disputes and working conditions in the factories affect the life of the working class in a very significant way touching the lives of the deprived and marginal sections of the society.

Kharge appealed to state labour ministers to maintain an industrial climate which is conducive to achieving high growth rate.