House panel...

“Many organisations who deposed before us feel that the eight hour-schedule was sacrosanct in the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution. But now, a hundred years after the first ILO convention, the world has changed. So, there is an opportunity to look into the issue,” said labour panel chief Bhartruhari Mahtab, a six-term MP from the Biju Janata Dal.

Another panel member added on condition of anonymity that at least in some sectors such as textiles and information technology, the government can think of extending working hours.

Panel members also said that the extended fixed hours would be at higher wages. Trade unions affiliated to the Left parties submitted a memorandum to the panel and are vehemently opposed to any such plan. “The historic May Day is a result of the workers’ demand for fix working hours. International conventions have divided the day into eight hours of sleep, eight hours for work and eight hours for recreation for workers,” said Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) general secretary Tapan Sen.

The code puts the onus on the employers to provide a crèche and other facilities for women workers who are allowed to work in night shifts. These provisions, many members said, are capitalintensive and place a burden on people who run small and medium sector enterprises. The panel may consider asking the government to allow common facilities for workers in a particular sector and area which can be maintained by a group of enter