Ministry of Labour & Employment
Shri Gangwar Introduces Three Labour Codes in Lok Sabha Heralding The Path of Game Changing Labour Welfare Reforms in The Country
Posted On: 19 SEP 2020 5:11PM by PIB Delhi
Minister
of State (I/C) for Labour and Employment, Shri Santosh Gangwar today
introduced three Labour Codes in the Lok Sabha heralding the path of
game changing labour welfare reforms in the country. These bills are (i)
Industrial Relations Code, 2020, (ii) Code on Occupational Safety,
Health & Working Conditions Bill, 2020 (iii) Social Security Code,
2020. While introducing the bills he mentioned that the Code on Wages
has already been approved by Parliament in the month of August, 2019 and
has already become the law of the land. Along with this, three Bills
introduced today will pave way for simplification of labour laws, its
implementation and will bring immense labour welfare measures to the 50
crores workers in the country, both in the organised and unorganised
sectors.
Shri
Santosh Kumar Gangwar also said that on the recommendation of the
second National Commission on Labour that the existing Labour Laws to be
merged into fewer Labour Codes, Government started the work on these
lines. “Since 2014 elaborate exercise of consultations with all
stake-holders was undertaken. As a result, 29 Central Labour Laws are
proposed to be reduced to just 4 Labour Codes” Shri Gangwar added.
He
also mentioned that these Codes will also bring the industrial peace
and harmony in the country which will immensely help the country in
bringing much needed economic growth and will help in employment
generation.
The
Minister further mentioned that these introduced Bills will also help
the employers which will bring the investment and will create harmonious
industrial relations in the country. He further said that to help the
harmonious industrial relations, we need to balance the interest of all
stakeholders. Further stated that t 73 years, after independence we are
now bringing much needed labour reforms in the country in a big way.
The
Minister also said that these reforms will really protect the interest
of workers and will provide them social security, protection, safe and
working environment and effective conciliation, mechanism for their
grievances, if any left. He further mentioned that in these labour
codes, a proper balance is maintained between the interest of workers
and the employers because then only a labour welfare can take place in
true sense.
All
these Bills were earlier introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2019, after
which it was referred to Parliamentary Standing Committee as per the
normal Parliamentary practices for examination and after detailed
discussion with all the stakeholders, a report was submitted by the
Parliamentary Standing Committee. “Labour & Employment Ministry has
gone through all the 233 recommendations and I am happy to say that 74%
of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee has been
accepted by the Government” Shri Gangwar said.
A
statutory right has been created for minimum wages and timely payment
of wages to all workers whether in organized or unorganised sector. It
extends entitlement of minimum wages to all the workers in the country
as against 30 per cent of the workforce, at present. At present, minimum
wages are fixed for employment covering mainly mines sector,
plantation, dock workers, building and construction workers, watch and
ward, sweeping and cleaning and on manufacturing sector etc. Extension
will take place to entire service sector (IT, hospitality,
transportation etc.), domestic workers, unorganized workers, teachers.
- Method of fixation of minimum wage rates simplified. Factors to be taken into account are skills and geographical location as against the present system of wage being fixed employment-wise.
- Number of minimum wage rate would be around 200 in the entire country as against 10000, at present.
- In central sphere, there would be only 12 minimum wage rates as against 542.
- Revision of minimum wages every 5 years.
- A statutory concept of ‘Floor Wage’ introduced.
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