Centre drops plan to bar outsiders from leading trade unions
24 April 2018: Amid protests from Unions regarding the Code on Industrial Relations Bill 2015 which is aimed at combining three acts — the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947; Trade Unions Act, 1926; and Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 the Labour Ministry has dropped the proposal to restrict outsiders from becoming office-bearers in trade unions. The Ministry had earlier recommended that only people engaged or employed in an industry can become office-bearers of a trade union in the organised sector and only two outsiders could be office-bearers of a trade union in the unorganised sector. Under the present law, one-third of the office-bearers, upto five workers, in a trade union can be outsiders in the organised sector and half the office-bearers can be outsiders in a union of unorganised sector workers. The Ministry has also rolled back a proposed provision disqualifying a person as an office-bearer if the individual is an office-bearer in 10 other trade unions.
Labour Ministry proposes draft Code on Occupational Health and Safety
2 April 2018: Ministry of Labour has proposed a preliminary draft Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2018. The Code amalgamates 13 labour laws relating to safety and health standards, working conditions, welfare provisions, provisions for leave and hours of work.
The Ministry has sought comments and suggestions from public on the code, the last date for submitting comment/suggestions is 10 June 2018.
