Defeat disastrous labour law changes

July 2003 - March 2004 Index

Defeat disastrous labour law changes - EEFI

This 5th Conference of the Electricity Employees Federation of India held at Anpara Uttar Pradesh from 30th August to 1st September 1st 2003, resolves and calls upon the employees in the power industry to forge united movements throughout the country to fight back and defeat disastrous effects of the proposed amendments to the existing provisions of Labour Laws and the at the same time urges and Central and State Governments to give up the action aiming at the Labour Law Changes and to hold discussions with the trade Union centres to fulfil the promises in regard to the accepted demands of the toiling masses of the Country.

On the retrograde recommendations of the Second National Commission on Labour, the Central Government is moving ahead to bring legislative changes adversely affecting the interests of the mass of workers. In the face of united opposition voiced at the meeting of Indian Labour Conference held in September 2002, the Labour Minister committed to have an in depth discussion on the report in the tripartite forum. But now Central Labour Ministry is moving in the opposite direction. The Group of Ministers have already finalised the draft amendments bills at the dictates of the employers' lobby, on the Industrial Disputes Act 1947, Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 and the Indian Trade Unions Act 1926.

It has been actually cleared for allowing deployment contract workers in all kinds of works without exception, although it posed to have allowed contract work only in 12 items. The Labour Ministry has gone to the extent that the Principal Employees, who are the real beneficiaries of the contract system, have been completely freed from any obligation whatsoever for the well-being, regular payment etc. to the contract workers.

Further to the above, it has been proposed to omit the Chapter V in Industrial Disputes Act 1947, dealing with special provisions to lay off, retrenchment and closure in certain circumstances, in which not less than one hundred workmen are employed. In this matter, the Central Government did not even bother to pay heed to the recommendations of SNCL, which has suggested raising the provisions to 300 workers. Before the matters is even discussed with the Unions, the Labour Ministry suggested to raise to 1000 workers, thereby to allow the employers the complete liberty on "hire and fire regime".

In respect of Indian Trade Unions Act, the A.P. State Government has suggested 30 percent of the workmen connected to the employer is essential to from a Trade Union. Now the Government of India suggested that 20 percent of the workmen would be required to register a trade union.

Another proposed of the A.P. State Government is being accepted by the Government of India wish some modification that Section 22 of Trade Union Act has to be amended that outside leadership should be considered in unorganised sector only.

Opposition to those anti-worker amendments to the labour laws has been sufficiently and effectively demonstrated by the unprecedented magnificent strike on the 21st May this year. Further to this, the trade union movements have to wage qa determined struggle to defeat the offensive of the Government which is in league with employers under the pretext of reforms in industry. Hence this conference calls upon electricity all over the country to forge united action and to fight anti-work labour low changes along other workers in all industries.


Home \| Voice of Electricity workers \| Press Release \| Resolutions \| Feedback \| About Us