Worker reps left out of labour code drafting: TUs

Slamming the proposed industrial relations code, labour unions on Wednesday said the consultations in this regard are a "farce" as representatives of workers should have been involved at the drafting stage itself. The draft Industrial Relations Code Bill, 2015 combines Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the Trade Unions Act, 1926, and the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.

The proposed industrial relations code provides for hire and fire of employees and makes it tough to form trade unions. "As per the ILO convention 141, the interested parties should be consulted at time of drafting a legislation. The government is imposing this draft on us," All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said after a tripartite consultation meeting between unions, government and representatives of employers.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions President A K Padmanabhan said, "This tripartite consultation on the draft industrial bill is a farce. We will meet at national convention of central trade unions on May 26 where we would decide about further action which includes strike also." The government is diluting existing labour laws as it thinks "these are impediments to economic growth", he added. Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said, "We have decided to form a committee to study the draft code on industrial relations.”