The new ‘code on occupational safety and health’ does not inspire confidence, as statutory obligations have been diluted

Gujarat has joined the league of states announcing labour reforms by exempting new projects from provisions of labour laws.

The State government is considering relaxing some key labour laws meant to protect the interests of workers in Karnataka, including those which govern

Workers’ unions irked by ‘anti-labour’ moves of States such as UP, MP, Gujarat

Nine trade unions under the umbrella of Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) have said it would oppose any proposal to increase the working hours an

Unlike the other Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments, Assam has not proposed doing away with most labour laws for a certain number of years. Instead it has proposed introducing fixed-term employment to help both workers and industries, and seeks to take more firms out of the ambit of laws governing factories and contract workers.

Back home, the workers are looking to start afresh. Their best bet seems to be rehabilitation packages.

The laws that will remain in force in UP during the three year period include those which provide basic facilities and security to the labourers.

Earlier in the week, Uttar Pradesh promulgated an ordinance to exempt industries from various labour laws for three years to revive economic activities.

Just to have employment levels rise meaningfully—let alone goals such as playing host to companies moving out of China, or raising manufacturing’s share in the GDP to 25%—the Centre and the states must quickly ease labour laws.

There has been talk for some time now about easing labour laws, already seen in industry circles as being too rigid and acting as a drag on growth, specifically to facilitate emerging from the lockdown. And it’s not just a question of emerging from it, there’s also the issue of surviving what looks like being a brutal and prolonged global economic downturn. It was reported on Friday that ordinances were being issued in some states.

1. Coronavirus Lockdown 3.0: Suspension of labour laws by fiat can only be an immediate-term response to the...  Firstpost
2. Odisha govt extends work shift to 12 hours  The Hindu
3. Now, Maharashtra tweaks labour laws to increase working hours  The Hindu
4. View Full coverage on Google News

1. Does India need industries to restart at the cost of diluted labour laws?  Moneycontrol.com
2. Migrants run over by train, labour laws put on hold: Covid-19 news today  Hindustan Times
3. Three states ease labour laws to boost investment, jobs  Times of India
4. Ease labour laws now: UP gets it right, but relaxation must become permanent  The Financial Express
5. Karnataka Govt Says No Action Against Firms Not Paying April Wage as Industry Heads Seek Eased Labour Law...  News18
6. View Full coverage on Google News

The Bahujan Samaj Party on Saturday attacked the Uttar Pradesh government for exempting industries in the state from some labour laws, saying it comes at a time when the condition of labourers is the "worst" during coronavirus pandemic. In a series of Hindi tweets, BSP chief Mayawati said, "Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the condition of labourers is perhaps the worst, and even then a mechanism has been implemented where instead of 8 hours of work, they are made to work for 12 hours. This is very sad and unfortunate. Change in labour laws should be in the interest of the labourers." "Babasaheb BR Ambedkar had brought the concept of overtime, if the labourers had worked for more than 8 hours in a day, when exploitation of labour was at its peak. Is it correct to push the country to that era," she asked in another tweet. The BSP chief also said, "Keeping the current situation prevailing in the country, the labour laws should be changed in a way, so that labourers working in a factory .

The Gujarat government on Saturday announced exemption from certain labour laws for 1,200 days to firms that want to set up new units in the state in order to "boost economic activities" post-lockdown. Earlier, governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh had offered concessions from labour regulations in their states to attract investment. The government also announced relief amid coronavirus pandemic for industries which use natural gas supplied by Gujarat Gas, a subsidiary of state-owned Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, by giving more time to pay gas bills. "Companies in Gujarat, India and abroad willing to bring new projects and set up new units in the state will be freed from labour laws for 1,200 days, except those related to the minimum wages and industrial safety," said Ashwani Kumar, secretary to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Local MSME owners willing to set up new units will also get this exemption, he said. In a tweet, Chief Minister's Office said that ...

Cases on child labour or trafficking are rarely filed by the labour department and police. Even when cases are filed, offenders get away quickly. Navya P K reports.

Covid-19 lockdown: Sitaram Yechury writes to President Kovind on labour laws

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat ease labour laws

The employers' organisations also sought relaxation of the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act to treat the lockdown period as lay-off.

Several state governments have eased labour laws to attract more investment and jump-start the cycle of demand after days of lockdown that has hit the economy badly.

The move follows similar decisions taken by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments to revive the economy that has been badly hit due to the ongoing coronavirus-induced lockdown.

A request was also made for tweaking benefits under ESI and PF. However, as both fall under the central government, the state authorities have reportedly expressed it inability to make any amendments to the norms.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday passed an ordinance to suspend most of the labour laws in the state, in order to attract new companies to invest in the state amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The decision was an unfortunate one, withdrawing the protection given to workers and labourers, BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said.

The concessions will be in place for the next 1,000 days to help industries “get back on their feet”

The list of laws proposed to be suspended contains Centrals laws. Suspending them would require the President’s approval.

‘U.P. government crushing their rights’

Centre should not allow exemptions from welfare laws for workers mooted by States

Exemption from four sections of The Factories Act; employers can run 12-hour shifts

New projects: Labour laws exempted

Gujarat exempts new business from labour laws for 1,200 days

The state government also offered land and infrastructure for companies and projects that were looking to shift base from China to other destinations

Opposition party leaders of seven parties, such as Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Manoj Jha and Thol Thirumavalavan, have written to President Ramnath Kovi

Say laws are amended to woo firms looking to leave China; fear exploitation of workers

Industry bodies such as CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM suggested a slew of measures and sought relaxations such as increasing working hours to 12 hours per day from the existing 8 hours per day to help them revive operations, according to a release by the Labour Ministry.

Except for laws pertaining to the payment of minimum wages, following safety norms and adequate compensation for workers in case of industrial accidents, no other provisions of the labour law would apply to all new companies that wish to operate in the state for at least 1,200 days, and for those that have already been operational for that period.