Industrial Disputes Act may be amended

The government is considering amendment to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, to provide for an internal grievance redressal machinery for the promotion of better industrial relations at establishments.

As per the proposal, the decision-taking authority on grievance will be at the level of the person supervising the workmen. The first appeal will be at the next higher level, which could be the plant level. The second appeal will be at the level of the head of the industrial establishment.

The proposal will be discussed at the 40th session of the Indian Labour Conference starting on December 9 here. The agenda of the two-day session, as communicated to trade unions by the ministry of labour and employment, includes amendment of labour laws and social security for unorganised sector workers.

Under the proposed IGRM, the employer shall provide a grievance redressal authority, or more than one authority considering the number of employees, for the settlement of disputes connected with an individual worker.

The workman or his authorised representative may apply to an appellate authority, which will also be appointed by the employer. Any appeal against the grievance redressal authority shall be disposed of within one month and submit his report to the head of the establishment with a copy to the concerned workman.

There shall be a 'Final Appellate Authority' appointed by the employer to hear and decide the matter within 15 days after receiving the appeal.

The Ramanujam committee on new Industrial Relations Law had earlier recommended that every establishment employing 50 or more persons must have a grievance redresal procedure.

Having examined the report the government proposes to provide an elaborate grievance ventilation and redresal machinery within an establishment having 20 or more workmen.

The government's move to set up the IGRM is, however, likely to face resistance from trade unions. WR Varadarajan, Secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said his union would oppose the amenments in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, because the IGRM, controlled by the management, will further delay justice to aggrieved workers.