Labour activists staged a protest at the Rajasthan Resident Commissioner’s office at Bikaner House here on Wednesday morning. They were protesting against the Rajasthan Government’s decision to introduce changes in the implementation of three Central labour laws.
Labour activists from groups including Krantikari Naujawan Sabha, Nowroz and Pratidhwani shouted slogans against the Vasundhara Raje Government’s amendments to the Industrial Disputes Act, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, and the Factories Act on June 4.
The amendments, will erode labour rights, say the activists.
“The changes will make employers even less answerable to workers, it will diminish the negotiating strength of workers, and make their employment more precarious,” said Nayanjyoti of Krantikari Naujawan Sabha. “The protection these laws give to workers were won after long struggles by workers such as Bengal’s jute mill workers strikes in the 1920-30s,” he added.
“But these changes are an attack on the workers’ rights by the BJP-led government. In the last few months workers have raised their voices for their rights at several plants in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi – at plants of Autofit Dharuhera, Munjal Kiriu Manesar, Nerolac Bawal, Daikin Neemarana, Shriram Piston Bhiwadi, Napino Auto Manesar, Ahresti Bawal, Minda Furukawa Bawal, Bajaj Motors Gurgaon and a number of other factories. This resistance will continue,” said a representative of Workers’ Solidarity Center, Gurgaon.
Mr. Nayanjyoti said the groups had decided to continue their demonstration despite being denied permission by Delhi Police officials to hold the demonstration. Twenty policemen were deployed at the Bikaner House on Wednesday while the demonstration went on.
Citing it as a step towards job creation, the Vasundhara Raje Cabinet had on June 4 cleared amendments to three Central laws to be introduced in the State Assembly in July before being sent for President’s assent. The State-level amendments will make Industrial Disputes Act applicable only in the case of retrenchment of over 300 workers, raising it from the current limit of 100 workers. The amendment proposes a limit of three years for raising an industrial dispute and increases the minimum number of workers required to register a trade union from 10 to 30 per cent of the workers employed. Also, the changes will make the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act applicable only to units employing over 50 workers, raised from the current criterion of 20 workers. It proposes that the Factories Act will be applicable only to units employing 20 workers with power supply and 40 workers if without power supply, increased from the existing norm of 10 and 20 workers, respectively. “Because of these changes a large number of workers will no longer be eligible for respectable working conditions and certain standards of cleanliness, ventilation, provision of drinking water, safety provisions etc.” said Subhasini, a member of Pratidhwani.
Later, the activists submitted a memorandum. “I have received their protest letter and will notify the CM’s office. We let them go on with the protests last couple of hours since they were peaceful,” said V. Sharma, Additional Resident Commissioner at Bikaner House.
