Govt may settle for 'truncated' labour reforms

The government is considering going ahead with 'truncated labour reforms' in the absence of consensus between employers and employees on a number of contentious issues like lay-offs and retrenchment.

"Since no consensus on the contentious provisions like the definition of industry, lay-offs, retrenchment and closure could be reached,  the ministry of labour and employment has decided to go ahead with the truncated agenda," highly placed sources said.

The ministry has called a meeting with the employer organisations on March 6 to discuss the "innocuous" amendment proposals to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

Even for these "innocuous" proposed amendments, the ministry is trying to seek "consensus" among the stake-holders.

One of these relate to the appointment of the officers of the Central Labour Service in Grade three or State Labour Service of the rank of Joint Labour Commissioner with five years' experience and Indian Legal Service in Grade two with three years' experience, eligible for the post of Presiding Officer in the Central Industrial Tribunals.