Gujarat’s controversial Labour Laws Bill gets Presidential assent

President Pranab Mukherjee has given assent to the contentious Labour Laws Bill of Gujarat, which has provisions to ban strikes in public utility services for up to one year. 

What are the main provisions of this bill:

• This bill ban strikes  in public utility services for up to 1 year for first time. This ban can be subsequently extended up to 2 years for any number of times.
• By paying certain fee to the government, out of court settlement between the labourers and management is possible.
• Amends the definition of contractor to include outsourcing agencies, which in some cases is government itself.
• It is mandatory to be paid by cheque instead of cash for establishments employing 20 persons or more.
• Employer can change  the nature of jobs of the employees without prior notice.
• This has eased "hire and fire" provisions in special investment regions like the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ), export-oriented industrial establishments and some other economic zones.

Controversies:

• The amended law gives licence to the owners to break all laws and to get away by paying little fine. Till now, owners used to be scared while violating labour laws as it invited criminal action against them.Now these offences have been made compoundable which means settlement of the violation by paying some money.
• This manly focus on the benefit of employer and take away amendment is just to benefit the capitalist class and take away the little security cover provided to labour.
• Reduced the bargaining power of union.

By: Vishal