NEW LABOUR CODES: LABOUR LAW REFORMS

• Be N By IAS, Delhi
• 26, Feb 2021

For : GS-3: Economy, Labour Reforms

CONTEXT:

• The Ministry of Labour and Employment is likely to complete the process to finalise the rules for four labour codes soon.
• The proposed labour codes could provide companies with the flexibility of four working days in a week.

PROPOSED FEATURES/RULES IN LABOUR CODE:

• Limit of 48 hours: The working hours limit of 48 hours for a week will remain sacrosanct.
• Consultation with States: A simultaneous exercise of consultations with states has also taken place.
• State’s own Labour Code: States/UT of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and J&K also expected to formulate their draft rules for state-level labour codes within a week.
• Free medical check-ups: The Government also proposes to provide free medical check-ups to workers through the Employees State Insurance Corporation.
• 48-hour weekly working hours: working days could come down below five.
  • If it is four, then you have to provide three paid holidays.
  • If it has to be a seven day week, then it has to be divided into 4 or 5 or 6 working days,” Chandra said. The 48-hour weekly working hours limit will remain. “It is sacrosanct,”
• Web portal for Workers: The Ministry is also progressing to roll out a web portal by June 2021 for registration and other facilities of workers in the unorganised sector, including
  • Gig and workers
  • Platform workers and
  • Migrant workers.

ENFORCEMENT OF CODES:

• This ministry would soon be in a position to bring into force the four Codes, viz., Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) and Social Security Codes.”
• Amalgamating 44 central Labour Laws: The Labour Ministry had envisaged implementing the four labour codes from April 1 this year in one go. The ministry is in the final leg of amalgamating 44 central labour laws into four broad codes on
  • Wages,
  • Industrial relations,
  • Social security and
  • Osh.

NEW LABOUR SURVEYS:

• The Labour Bureau has also started work on four new surveys for
  • Migrant workers,
  • Domestic workers,
  • Employment generated by Professionals and Transport Sector.
• The Bureau will also commission ‘All India Establishment based Employment Survey.’

Source: Indian Express