Strikes cost less than lock-outs, says Amin

West Bengal labour minister Md Amin said that number of mandays lost due to strikes in West Bengal in the last few months was far less than the number of mandays lost as a result of lockouts declared by managements.

Amin had to stand in for central labour minister Sahib Singh Verma who ditched two chambers of commerce in the city yesterday. Verma also ditched central coal and mines minister Mamata Banerjee at the launch function of the relief scheme for unorganised sector workers in the city yesterday.

Amin indicated managements in the state was not very keen on sharing profit with employees or even pay them their due. Addressing an interactive session on Restructuring of Labour Laws for Employment Generation organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Amin said the last resort for employees in the state should be declaration of strike.

Labourers should resort to strike only when all other means of amicably settling issues available under the law failed.

Citing example from the jute sector, Amin said employees are denied bonus and dearness allowances were held back.

They went to the court against the issue and the state government had asked them to pay them some amount in advance which would be settled after final verdict from the court was available.

"They did not pay heed to my request. Only after the central government gave in writing, management in the jute sector paid their bonus. This however stopped only after two years and this forced a strike," he added.

Commenting on amendment of labor laws he said, mere amendment will not help. It had to be discussed with the central trade unions along with management and all other stake holders.

The minister also said that that the state government has framed four principles on the basis of which labour issues should be sorted out. The precondition was peaceful dialogue and discussion.

Further, profitability of a unit was responsibility of both workers and workers. Labourers and unions should frame charter of demand keeping profitability of the unit in view.

State to help industry

Earlier in the day, addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry -eastern region, Amin said the West Bengal government was willing to extend its cooperation to achieve equilibrium between industry and trade unions. A sympathetic approach towards workers was needed, he indicated.

Priyadarshani Dash, secretary for labour issues in Andhra Pradesh, said the state had reformed laws relating to contracts, labour, trade unions and industrial disputes and enacted the AP Special Law for Enclaves. Andhra provided short term jobs to retired skilled workers following VRS and retrenched workmen periodically.

Asok M Chakrabarty, labour secretary of West Bengal said the conciliatory machinery in the state had been strengthened for more transparency and effective results. Laws on shops and establishments had seen amendments to help retail, IT and SEZ sectors, he added.