(a) whether Central Trade Unions had observed an indefinite strike in the country in protest against
Government`s bid to destroy the Public Sector Undertakings and its coercive economic policies;
(b) if so, the details thereof and raction of the Government thereto; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to redress the problems of Trade Unions?
MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES & PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI PRAFUL PATEL)
(a) & (b): The Major Central Trade Unions viz. Indian National Trade Union Congress, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, United Trade Union Centre and their affiliated unions observed countrywide general strike on 28th February 2012 to press the following 10 points charter of demands;-
(1) Concrete measures to contain price rise,
(2) Concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession/iVicentive package offered to the entrepreneurs,
(3) Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures
for violation of labour laws,
(4) Universal social security cover for the unorganized sector workers,
(5) Stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs,
(6) No contractorisation of work of permanent/perennial nature of job,
(7) Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs. 10,000/-, Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund,
increase the quantum of gratuity,
(9) Assured Pension for ail,
(10) Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO conventions
No. 87 and 98.
All the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) and Regional Labour Commissioner (Central) in the field had intervened
on the strike notices received by them pertaining to Central Sphere.
(c): Some of the remedial measures taken/initiated by the Government are as under:
(i) The Government has taken various fiscal as welt as administrative measures to contain price rise as a result
of which inflation is moderating;
(ii) So far as enforcement of labour laws in Central sphere is concerned, there exists a well defined and effective
machinery consisting of Labour Enforcement Officers (Central),
Assistant Labour Commissioners (Central), Regional Labour Commissioners (Central) and Deputy Chief Labour Commissioners (Central) under Chief Labour Commissioner (Central). Similarly, Employees State Insurance Corporation and Employees
Provident Fund Organisation have their own enforcement machinery. Similar arrangements are also available in the
States for enforcement of labour laws in the State sphere;
(iii) Keeping in view the recommendations of National Commission for Enterprises in Unorganised Sector and Parliamentary Standing Committee, the Government has enacted Unorganised Workers` Social Security Act, 2008. The Government has also set
up National Social Security Fund with a corpus of Rs.1000 crore. National Social Security Board has also been constituted which is advising the Government from time to time on new Social Security Schemes.
(iv) To ensure universal coverage of employment under Minimum Wages Act, a proposal for amendment in the Act has already
been mooted. Regarding fixation of statutory minimum wages at not less than Rs.10, 000, the matter was discussed in the
44th Indian Labour Conference held on 14th and 15th February, 2012 but no consensus could emerge.
(v) So far as removal of wage ceilings under Provident Fund Act is concerned, the matter was debated in the 44th Indian Labour Conference held on 14th and 15th February, 2012 and a broad based consensus emerged for raising wage ceiling from present level of Rs. 6500 to Rs. 10000 or Rs. 15000.