Centre proposes further discussions with unions on labour laws

Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya holds a meeting with union members on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) to discuss the proposed Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme. | Photo credit: ANI

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has agreed to hold further discussions with central trade unions on implementation of four labour codes, union leaders said on Wednesday. The minister gave this assurance at a roundtable meeting with central trade unions, where ten unions accused the codes of favouring big corporates.

The meeting reflected different priorities – while the agenda was to discuss the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme announced recently in the Union Budget, the ten CTUs said they had concerns about the four regulations and submitted a detailed memorandum to Mr. Mandaviya on the new unified pension scheme, their demands for restoration of the non-contributory old pension scheme and convening of an Indian Labour Conference, among other issues. The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje.

Click here to read the Central Trade Union’s Labour Law

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Mandaviya said the two sides had a detailed discussion on the ELI scheme, which is expected to create 20 million jobs in the country. “We will implement the scheme. We need the views and suggestions of the trade unions on the scheme. We will take their suggestions in implementing the scheme,” he said, noting that trade unions are the voice of workers and their insights are invaluable in formulating policies that are not only effective but also fair and inclusive.

However, even the Union-backed Workers’ Union of India has demanded clarification on the ELI. BMS vice-president Raj Behari Sharma, who represented the organisation at the meeting, said the ELI scheme was for the formal sector and asked the central government to do something for the struggling informal sector. “The expenditure on the formal sector is huge but the informal sector and workers in the informal sector are suffering,” he said, but added that the ELI would be a foolproof scheme as the subsidy would be given directly to the workers and the Employees’ Provident Fund. He also complained that discussion points were not shared with the CTU before the meeting.

The unions said the discussions were about more than just the ELI. “We raised a range of issues, including implementation of the Labour Code. The minister said he was ready for further discussions on the Labour Code,” said Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress.

Ms Kaur added: “Responding to the issues of convening of the Indian Labour Congress, non-enforcement of existing labour laws, lack of inspections to ensure decent working conditions and safeguard occupational safety and health of workers, the Minister assured that regular meetings will be held to discuss the issues raised by the trade unions, including the Labour Code, so that resolutions can be taken through mutual discussions.”

The ten CTUs also demanded that the central government abolish the state demonetisation pipeline and de-corporatisation of ordnance factories. “Creation of new employment opportunities should be the first priority of the government to address the unprecedented unemployment problem. The Agnipath scheme should be scrapped and regular recruitment should be started at the earliest,” they said in a memorandum to the minister.