A liberal labour market

New Codes welcome, but gaps remain

The government should be commended for pressing ahead with labour reforms. Last week, three Bills comprising three-fourths of a comprehensive labour code were re-introduced in Parliament. The previous versions of the Bills were withdrawn, because according to the government, they were comprehensively changed following the acceptance of several recommendations made by the relevant parliamentary standing committee on labour. The Opposition has raised several objections to the new Bills; the procedural suggestion that they be examined once again by the committee has some merit if they have indeed been substantially changed. Given the importance of changing India’s labour laws, it is