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UP plan to iron out labour disputes

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Vijay Chawla Kanpur
Last Updated : Feb 06 2013 | 6:11 AM IST
The UP government is toying with the idea of devising a method by which labour laws can be implemented by industry without intervention of labour inspectors.
 
A labour department circular has asked officials to conduct a general survey to ensure that minimum wages were being paid. It cited the case of bidi workers, for which several industrial units had not paid minimum wages.
 
It said joint teams of officials would verify the truth on this, and should launch a campaign if there was bonded labour and child labour. It further advised investigating "in a polite manner".
 
The state government is now devising method to have a harassment-free atmosphere based on trust in industry. It puts the onus for the implementation of labour laws on industry.
 
Some methods are being thought of. First, the option of self-certification. A proforma will be prepared having all labour laws, regulating matters, etc. The companies will be asked to fill it. After this, an investigation will be carried out.
 
If found satisfactory, the unit will be given a certificate for five years and it will not be checked in this period; if not, it will be advised to meet its inadequacies and another investigation will be done.
 
The aim is not to launch prosecution, but rather to achieve one's goal of ensuring adherence to labour laws.
 
Another method being thought of is seeking a third party for investigation. The third option is for units to seek certificates from standard organisations. Labour Commissioner Sharda Prasad says there is need for an Indian equivalent of an International Standards Organisation.
 
This has assumed urgency because there has been simmering discontent among the workers over the non-implementation of labour laws and safety norms, while bodies like the Indian Industries Association have described as a return of the inspector raj the steps initiated by the labour commissioner to get information on the implementation of labour laws.
 
IIA President Tarun Khetrapal told Business Standard any general survey only showed symptoms of the inspector raj, resulting in a harassment of entrepreneurs. If there is a report about any particular unit, there should be inspection, he says.
 
He said in 1994, Mulayam Singh Yadav had declared that the inspector raj in UP had ended and raids could be done only with the permission of the district magistrates. But now the labour commissioner's circular seeks to withdraw that order.

 
 

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First Published: Jan 26 2006 | 12:00 AM IST

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