Industrial relations, an area neglected in the last decade, is back in focus in most of the companies. This follows the global slowdown, and recent labour unrest in prominent companies such as Maruthi and Pricol.
Some of the IIMs are even planning to start courses on IR, said K. Srinivasan, Managing Director, Carborundum Universal Ltd, a Murugappa Group company.
In the last 15-20 years, the ‘magic pill’ of casual labour in companies reduced the focus on IR with nearly half the employees being taken on temporary/casual basis, he said addressing the Tamil Nadu HR Summit 2012, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Recruiting temporary employees could not be completely stopped. However, compensation to these workers can be on par with confirmed employees. This could ensure more productivity while there would also be flexibility, he said. Murugappa Group has around 35,000 employees on the pay roll and another 12,000 to 14,000 temporary workers, Srinivasan later told newspersons.
“We need to find flexible and skilled workforce,” he said. “Within our company, we have decided that in the next three years there will absolutely no temps, who are people like gardeners and security personnel, he said.
R. Dinesh, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu, and Joint Managing Director, TV Sundram Iyengar & Sons Ltd, said that while Tamil Nadu continues to be a leader in skill availability and capability, there is a huge demand for skilled workforce in the lower level. For instance, there is a shortage of nearly 65,000 drivers, he said.
Despite a large number of migrants coming to the State, there will still be shortage, he said.
Mohan Pyare, Tamil Nadu Secretary for Labour and Employment Department urged the industry to look at the Modular Employable Skills (MES) under Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) of the Centre. The government pays the companies providing training to people under the scheme, he said.
The scheme is to provide employable skills to school leavers, workers and ITI graduates. Existing skills of the persons can also be tested and certified under this scheme. Priority will be given to covering those above the age of 14 years who have been or withdrawn as child labour to enable them to learn employable skills in order to get gainful employment.