There has been a paradigm shift in approach towards labour laws from 1991 when globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation policies were introduced by the Central Government, said P.Vanangamudi, Vice-Chancellor, The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, here on Saturday.
Inaugurating a national seminar on Issues and challenges on labour legislations in the era of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation at Government Law College here, he said that labour laws existed ever since Independence and there were no changes in them. But the approach towards them by executive and judiciary has changed.
There has been a shift from labour-friendly to employer-friendly from 1991. Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer’s judgements were labour-friendly. But later the approach was in favour of capitalists.
What the labourers have lost in labour laws because of the shift in approach and lack of labour-friendly spirit can be gained through article 21 of the Constitution (protection of life and personal liberty) and Human Rights Act.
All those conventions and covenants enacted by international organisations and ratified in India should be implemented in letter and spirit. Many conventions and covenants have enough provisions to protect the labourers. “So what the labourers lost in industrial jurisprudence because of the shift in approach can be regained in human rights jurisprudence” Dr.Vanangamudi said.
He said that scope of law is changing. It has become wide. Sixty per cent of the students joining law courses are B.E students. He advised law college students to update their knowledge, sharpen their communication skills.
He said that 80 per cent of resources are still in the hands of 20 per cent of people in the country even after 64 years of India becoming a Republic.
“Rich becomes richer and poor becomes poorer.” Executive and judiciary have failed to realise the social obligations contemplated in the preamble and implement them so that the gap between the rich and the poor is reduced.
N. S. Santhoshkumar, Director of Legal Studies, said 57 papers were presented in the seminar. Many of the papers dealt with migrant labourers. Papers emphasised the need for amending Industrial Disputes Act 1947.
They stated that it should be seen whether the labour laws met the requirement of labourers in India and, if not, necessary amendments should be brought.
J. Vincent Comraj, Principal of the college and convenor of the seminar, M. Rajeswaran, co-ordinator of the seminar, and Murugeswari, Head of the Department of Women Studies and Publications, also spoke.
