The violence at Maruti’s Manesar facility that led to the ghastly death of an HR Manager and the resultant lock-out should be an eye-opener for the country, according to the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF).
ISF, which represents companies that have over 3.5 lakh temporary staff on its rolls, called upon employers, workers and Government, keeping in mind their individual interests, to commit to filling up the trust deficit through social dialogue, “before it is too late’’.
In fact, the staffing body said the time was ripe to “re-visit the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 and seek a paradigm shift in approach and definition of contract labour in India.”
It may be recalled, that a majority of the workers in Maruti’s Manesar unit were on contract and were fighting against wage disparity with the permanent staff.
The Act, which was enacted four decades ago, needs to be tailored keeping in mind a “modern staffing industry’’ it said.
It claimed that the interests of contract workers managed by professional staffing companies in the organised sector were secured and in line with stipulated statutory regulations.
“Professional staffing service providers cater not just to the demand of flexibility for the companies but also ensure statutory benefits to employees, such as minimum wages and other benefits,” it added.