Centre proposes amendment in labour law to recognise central trade unions

The Union government has proposed a labour law amendment in a bid to give statutory backing to central trade unions. Public comment has been invited till August 10.

The proposed Bill has provisions for recognising central TUs by various government departments, at both the central and state levels. There are provisions empowering the central government to frame rules for recognising unions and resolving disputes arising out of it.

Unions are not recognised under the Trade Unions Act, originally enacted in 1926. The office of the chief central labour commissioner conducts a verification drive of the membership, based on which the