(a)whether the Government is attempting/considering to progressively amend and amalgamate various labour laws in the country;
(b)if so, the details thereof; and
(c)the details of the efforts made/being made by the Government for ensuring meticulous/strict compliance of labour laws related to working condition of workers in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) & (b): The Second National Commission on Labour has recommended that the existing Labour Laws should be broadly grouped into four or five Labour Codes on functional basis. Accordingly, the Ministry has taken steps for drafting four Labour Codes on Wages; Industrial Relations; Social Security; and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions respectively, by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalizing the relevant provisions of the existing Central Labour Laws. Out of these, the Labour Code on Wages has been introduced in Lok Sabha on 10.08.2017 and subsequently, referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour. The rest of the codes are at pre-legislative consultative stage.
Contd..2/-
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(c): “Labour” is a concurrent subject, therefore, the responsibility for enforcement of the provisions of the various Labour Acts lies with the Central and the State Governments/Union Territories in relation to the establishments falling in the Central and State Sphere respectively. In the Central Sphere, enforcement of the provisions of the Labour Laws is done by the inspecting officers of the Chief labour Commissioner (Central) commonly designated as Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM). The country-wide network of Dy. Chief Labour Commissioners and Regional Labour Commissioners under the control of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) is mandated to settle the complaints/claims in regard to grievances/complaints arising out of the enforcement of various labour laws. In cases, where the State Governments are “appropriate authorities”, the enforcement of the provisions of the Labour Acts is done by the officials of State Labour Departments.
Also, Shram Suvidha Portal, launched by the Government on 16.10.2014, operates a transparent risk based Online Labour Inspection Service for effective enforcement of Labour Laws so as to bring transparency and accountability in enforcement of labour laws.
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