Even as the strike at Maruti's Manesar plant has ended, the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) has learnt a lesson from it. It is working on amending the Trade Union Act, 1926, to make the process of registration of a trade union more transparent. The amendment Bill would be placed in the next session of Parliament.
The right to register a trade union was at the heart of the Maruti strike, which went on for more than a month.
Officials in the labour ministry say the proposed amendment would ensure that a decision on whether to grant registration to a trade union or not becomes time-bound. The ministry is looking at a time period of 45 days for the registrar of the trade union to take a decision on the issue. At present, there is no time limit on the registrar to take a decision.
The amendment would also simplify the process for appeal. At present, appeal against the order of the registrar can be challenged in a civil court which takes a long time. The amendment will grant the labour court the power to hear an appeal.
Also, the registrar would be required to provide a "speaking order" explaining the reason for rejecting the registration of a trade union.
An official in the labour ministry directly involved in the development said the amendment was brought up since the ministry had been receiving repeated complains from trade unions over the process of granting registration.
Trade unions have welcomed this step. "We had been asking the government for very long to bring such legislation," said Sanjeev Reddy, president of the Indian Trade Union Congress. BL Sachdeva, general secretary, All India Trade Union Congress said the companies usually had their way by using their influence.
J John, the editor of Labour File, a bimonthly magazine that covers labour issues, said the amendment would be the government's major step in protecting the interests of workers. "If it happens, it will be a positive step," John said.
According to the Trade Union Act, 1926, seven or more members of a trade union may apply for registration at the office of the registrar of trade unions in the state, provided at the time of registration at least ten per cent or more than one hundred workers, whichever is less, are members of the body.
