Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh stalls Maharashtra government's labour reform measure

MUMBAI: The Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, an affiliate of the RSS, has stymied the efforts of the BJP-led government in Maharashtra to implement a crucial labour reform measure in the state.

For almost five months now a cabinet note on crucial labour reforms has not been introduced. The Fadnavis government wants to follow Rajasthan's example and amend the Industrial Disputes Act which would allow companies employing up to 300 staffers to lay off workers or shut down without first seeking the government's approval. The earlier limit allowed only companies with 100 or less employees to close down or retrench the workers.The Fadnavis government wanted to follow the Rajasthan government's example and accordingly had even prepared a cabinet note so that it would be cleared in the state cabinet and accordingly the Industrial Disputes Act be amended. However, the BMS which came to know of the government's move has strongly opposed the move putting labour reforms in the cold storage.

Baij Nath Rai, president of the BMS confirmed that his organisation has opposed the state government's move to emulate Rajasthan.

"We have opposed it. We had seen the draft and we have conveyed our strong opposition to it. This is an anti-labour law, that would hurt the workers' interests," said Rai, while speaking to ET.

He said that if the Maharashtra government goes ahead with the law then the BMS would be agitating against the state government.

A senior Maharashtra government official said that there were efforts to convince the BMS but added that in the end it would be a political decision. "The current act is counter-productive, because there are so many rules and regulations, companies don't hire more than 100 people as then they would come under the Industrial Disputes Act. If you amend it then more companies would be willing to hire which would create employment," said a state government official.