Karnataka - Bangalore   

Smart card mooted for industries

Bangalore: The Principal Secretary, Labour, B.L. Sridhar, said here on Tuesday that the Labour Department can work together with major industries to introduce a ‘smart card’ with details such as the years an industry has been operating, nature of production and number of employees. “This can be accessed by the department for easy reference. This would also make it easier for managements to fully comply with the labour laws in force,” he said.

He was speaking at the seminar on “Labour Laws Compliance Imperatives”, organised by Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) on Tuesday. Mr. Sridhar said: “An equitable management system that respects the rights of workers, a safe environment, accident prevention measures and mandatory wages is the hallmark of a progressive society.”

Some industry managements had a ‘mental block’ regarding labour laws, which had, in fact, been framed over the years with participation by industry representatives at the pre-legislation stages. A minimum level of regulations was necessary for industries to avoid disputes and litigation with workers’ unions.

“By taking enough safety measures and instructing shop-floor workers, most accidents can be prevented. When they do sometimes happen, we are obliged under the law to order compensation.

This goes for fire safety and handling of hazardous chemicals too,” Mr. Sridhar said. The department currently deals with 11,000 factories across the State and cooperation from managements would make things easier for both sides, he said.

B.C. Prabhakar, President, Karnataka Employers’ Association said some labour laws needed modifications because potential investors from overseas were wary of rigid closure rules in India. “The department can and should make compliance easier. Some industries have to deal with 29 different inspectors from the department,” he said.

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