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Haryana unveils new labour policy

Special Correspondent

It aims at protecting rights of workers and improving conditions of women

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Labour Minister Birender Singh on Thursday jointly unveiled a new labour policy. It aims at protecting the rights of workers, implementing measures for industrial safety and health, improving conditions for women workers, eliminating child labour, preventing industrial strife and streamlining implementation of labour laws in an atmosphere of mutual trust.

Mr.Hooda and Mr Singh later told media persons that the Labour Department would work towards creating an atmosphere of faith and trust in industrial relations to ensure that there were no strikes or lock-outs in the State. Conditions for women workers would be improved as per their special needs at the workplace. Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services and Industry besides malls would be encouraged by granting them exemption from the operation of the provisions of Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act regarding opening and closing hours.

The Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services Industry has also been added to the First Schedule of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 to declare it as "Public Utility Service'', which would prevent strikes and lock-outs without due notice and help in creating a more congenial atmosphere. The Government has also decided to allow employment of women during night shifts in this sector while ensuring their safety and sufficient protection of their rights.

Mr.Hooda said child labour would be eliminated and the District Vigilance Committees for prevention of bonded labour would be energized. He reiterated that his regime was committed to the rapid industrial development of the State to ensure greater economic growth and creation of additional jobs. The applications for registration, licensing and for approval of factory building plans under the Factories Act would now be submitted to the Senior Assistant Director, Industrial Safety and Health in their respective areas who would forward these to the Chief Inspector of Factories. The procedure for grant of Registration and License under the Factories Act and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act would be streamlined and some powers would be delegated to the field officers. He added that the focus would be on redressing the grievances of contract labour, protecting their rights and preventing their exploitation. The approach towards implementation of labour laws would be to ensure compliance rather than prosecution.

The conciliation and mediation skills of Conciliation Officers would be developed and strengthened for prevention of disputes and achieving a high percentage of settlements at the initial stages. Tripartite consultations would be held by the Department with Industries Associations and Workers' Organisations for free and frank exchange of ideas regarding departmental policies. In-house bipartite settlements and prevention of industrial disputes would be encouraged. Mr.Hooda said that the system of inspections would be rationalised and made complaint- oriented rather than a routine. The Government would ensure enforcement of legal welfare provisions of the labour legislations and implementation of existing welfare schemes for industrial workers. It would also introduce new welfare schemes for workers, ensure coverage of a wider section of workers and enhance the existing assistance being provided to them. He said that the minimum wage of industrial workers in Haryana was one of the highest in the country. At present, the minimum wage of an unskilled worker had been fixed at Rs. 2,359.54 per month and Rs.90.75 per day. The Government would continue to review and increase these wages from time to time on the basis of tripartite consultations.

The functioning of the Labour Department would be modernised and computerised.

Mr.Hooda also announced the formation of Haryana Overseas Placement Assistance Society to help the youth of the State in overseas placements. Mr.Birender Singh, who is also the Finance Minister, said that the Society would have ten official members and two non-official members with the Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment Department as its chairperson.

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