Center will organize a coordinated outreach program to address the concerns of informal sector workers labor code Ahead of the crucial assembly elections to be held next year. All government ministries and departments will be part of the initiative to make the public aware of the far-reaching benefits of the new laws.
The government wants to clear all doubts about the four labor code, which was praised by the industry as a significant reform initiative, but faced resistance from trade unions and workers’ unions, who termed the new laws as anti-worker, compromising the interests of the working class.
A 30-page document titled new labor code for new india, has been prepared by the Ministries of Labor and Information and Broadcasting, and all government ministries are being sensitized about the four codes to present a common view during the Central, State and District level discourses.
Eight chapters in the document describe how the new laws would benefit the working class, and called it “the biggest labor reform in independent India”.
According to the first chapter, “The Central Government has taken the historic step of codifying 29 laws into four codes so that workers can get safety with dignity, health and other welfare measures at ease.” A copy of the outreach document has been reviewed Mint.
“The labor reforms undertaken by the government will have far-reaching effects on both workers and industries. But it is considered largely anti-labour and this perception should change. The 30-32-page document gives a detailed view on workers and how they will benefit. All ministries are getting copies of it and political parties will also take them to the grassroots level.”
On sections of the laws being opposed by workers and trade unions, the official said: “They already know what they are criticizing. Our attempt is to give details of which critics are either overlooking or undermining.”
Interestingly, the government is silent on the date of implementation of labor codes on wages, social security, occupational safety and industrial relations. The document available on the website of the Ministry of Labor also did not specify the timeline for implementation.
While Parliament has given its assent, the rules are yet to be finalised. The initial target for the roll-out was April 2021. But delays in making rules at both the central and state levels, as well as the upcoming assembly elections, have expedited the work on the government’s plans to implement them.
Considering that states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat are going to polls in 2022, farmers’ protests along with large-scale farmers’ protests could have a political ramifications. The outreach program can help the government stay on its ground ahead of the elections.
The four labor codes are expected to bring about sweeping changes that will affect both businesses and workers. While employers will have more flexibility in fulfilling short-term work contracts and while industrial strikes may be tougher, a new national wage level could benefit workers, besides informal and gig workers will have a new social safety net. A significant change in the definition of “salary” would affect take-home pay, but would increase retirement savings—something that a class of employers are protesting because it could increase their employee costs.
All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Amarjeet Kaur said, “We all support the pro-worker measures…
Trade unions said that while the Wage Code calls for a mandatory national minimum wage, it is yet to be worked out two years after the code was passed.
Mint Reported in September how India’s plan to introduce a mandatory national minimum wage was hampered, after the labor ministry dismissed the first committee report and dissolved the second following the resignation of some members, on the minimum wage. A third committee was formed to do the work.
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