Government considering amendment of labour laws

NEW DELHI: Existing labour laws need to be amended and the Narendra Modi government is actively considering it, Labour and Employment Minister informed Parliament today.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment Vishnu Deo Sai told Rajya Sabha that the amendments in a host of labour laws, including Minimum Wages Act 1948, Labour Laws 1988, Factories Act 1948 and Child Labour Act 1986 are under active consideration of the government.

Industry representatives have been long demanding changes in labour laws which they have often termed "archaic" and a hindrance in raising and expanding their facilities.

However, in his answer to a question that if the government is contemplating to formulate new labour laws "very soon", Sai said, "at present there is no proposal to formulate new labour laws".

To another question, the minister said that his ministry has so far nor received any "formal and specific" proposal from Rajasthan government in Factories Act 1948, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition Act 1977 and the Industrial Disputes Act 1947.

"The ministry of labour and employment has so far nor received any "formal and specific" proposal from Rajasthan government in Factories Act 1948, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition Act 1977 and the Industrial Disputes Act 1947," Sai said.

Rajasthan government has approved in its cabinet, proposed amendments to three different laws namely Industrial Disputes Act, the Factories Act and the Contract Labour Act.

Several trade unions have protested against these amendments alleging that the amendments of labour and industrial laws were done without consulting them.