LS passes 3 Labour Codes amid boycott by Opposition

Amid boycott of Lok Sabha proceedings by Opposition parties led by the Congress in protest against the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha members, three key Bills related to labour reforms were passed by the Lower House.

“The labour reforms that are being undertaken by the government will prove to be a milestone for the welfare of workers,” labour minister Santosh Gangwar said while introducing the Bills in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Mr Gangwar told the Lok Sabha that the amendments in labour laws were a realisation of the dreams of Bhimrao Ambedkar, who wrote India’s Constitution.

While moving the Bills for consideration and passage, the minister said the government has come out with changes in the legislations after extensive consultations with state governments and other stakeholders.

He said about threefourth of the recommendations of the Standing Committee, which scrutinised the labour Codes, have been incorporated in the Bills.

On September 19, Mr Gangwar had introduced the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and the Code on Social Security, 2020. Over 29 labour laws have been merged into four codes and one ( Code on Wages Bill, 2019) of them has already been passed, according to the minister. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, will strengthen and amend the laws regulating the occupational safety, health and working conditions of persons employed in an establishment and othr matters.

■ Continued from Page 1 The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, seeks to consolidate and amend the laws relating to trade unions, conditions of employment in industrial establishments or undertaking, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes.

The Code on Social Security, 2020, will amend and consolidate laws relating to social security with the goal to extend social security to all employees and workers in the organised sector and the unorganised sector.

Mr Gangwar said efforts have been made to work out a balance between welfare of workers and ease of doing business for the industry.