Workers protest new labour norms

  • | Monday | 8th October, 2018

“The labour class has been demanding abolishment of contractual employment system. They said policies such as fixed-term employment, national employability enhancement mission and changes in rules for plant closures are completely anti- worker steps adopted by the government.“Earlier, any company with 100 workers or below could close the factory by issuing a notice to the labour department. During last several months, multiple protests have been held by workers in the Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt.“We have been submitting applications to the government, but no response came from the authorities. This has encouraged many factories to shut down in the Gurgaon – Manesar belt, and many more are likely to shut in coming days,” said Atul Kumar of Bellsoinca Employees Union.The Centre had in March allowed fixed-term employment for all sectors. Now the strength of employees has been increased to 300.

Gurgaon: As many as 1,500 workers protested outside the deputy commissioner’s office on Sunday, alleging that several recently introduced policies by the government are anti-labour.Workers from around 20 manufacturing companies, including Bellsonica Corporation, Rico Auto Industries, Endurance Technology, Maruti Suzuki, Honda among others, took part in the protest, and observed a day-long hunger strike. They said policies such as fixed-term employment, national employability enhancement mission and changes in rules for plant closures are completely anti- worker steps adopted by the government.“Earlier, any company with 100 workers or below could close the factory by issuing a notice to the labour department. Now the strength of employees has been increased to 300. This has encouraged many factories to shut down in the Gurgaon – Manesar belt, and many more are likely to shut in coming days,” said Atul Kumar of Bellsoinca Employees Union.The Centre had in March allowed fixed-term employment for all sectors. Earlier, the facility was allowed only in the garment sector.Fixed-term employment allows manufacturing units to employ workers on a contractual basis for a fixed term of two years.While the government had introduced this to facilitate the ease of doing business, the workers alleged that it made them vulnerable as the companies would eventually stop hiring permanent workers altogether. “The labour class has been demanding abolishment of contractual employment system. However, the government has brought in the fixed-term employment policy, which gives companies legal rights to hire contractual workers for just two years, and terminate them,” said Raj Kumar, Rico Auto Workers Union, adding, “What will happen to a worker when he or she is fired after two years.”Workers said even today, most companies only hire contractual workers in their plants as it helps them save the cost of giving benefits defined for permanent workers, and also worker-management disputes. During last several months, multiple protests have been held by workers in the Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt.“We have been submitting applications to the government, but no response came from the authorities. We might hold another rally, where we will submit an application seeking responses on earlier applications,” said Kuldeep Janghu, Maruti Suzuki Kamgar Union.Naresh Narnal, additional labour commissioner, NCR, Haryana, said they haven’t yet received the memorandum from the deputy commissioner’s office. However the discussions are going on, he added.

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