The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, looking into the changes proposed in the Factories Amendment Bill, 2014, has suggested that labour courts be set up within the factory complex for on-the-spot disposal of complaints/grievances.
“The management should be made legally bound to protect and uplift the interest of the workers,” it said in its report tabled in Parliament recently, while urging the Government to ensure that the proposed legislation be “very carefully calibrated” so as to guarantee security, safety, health and welfare of the workers and labourers as well as to facilitate their growth and employability.
The committee, headed by BJP leader Virendra Kumar, suggested that all factory workers be controlled by the Labour Commissioner concerned, and called for periodical audit by an independent agency to certify compliance to the rules and regulations made under the Factories Act so as to make it foolproof.
The committee said it did not accept the amendment to raise the threshold limit of employment (for falling under the purview of the Factories Act) from 10 to 20 workers (in case of factories using power) and from 20 to 40 workers (in case of factories not using power). It said it was not convinced with the Labour Ministry’s reasoning (that some States had demanded flexibility), as State Governments are empowered under the Concurrent List to propose their own amendments to the Factories Act from time to time depending on their requirement.
“Needless to say, such a Central Legislation enhancing the threshold level to empower the States is not required,” it said.
Trade unions, associations and individuals had expressed concern that if the amendment is carried out over 70 per cent of the factory establishments will be out of the coverage of the Act, “leaving workers at the mercy of employers on every aspect of their service conditions, rights and protective provisions…”
As regards the amendment to increase the spread of working hours from the existing 10.5 hours to 12 hours, the committee urged the Labour Ministry to revisit the matter, as it feared that it may lead to the harassment of the workers on being compelled to stay in the workplace for a longer period without adequate compensation.
The Bill, one of the key labour reforms being pushed by the Narendra Modi Government, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 7 this year. It was referred to the committee by the Speaker for examination and report within three months after several MPs sought clarifications. The Committee later got time extension to present the report to the House by December 23.