In what may be a sign of the changing political environment ahead of general elections, the Centre has turned down the Maharashtra government's proposal to provide labour law flexibility in special economic zones.
Pawan Kumar, organising secretary of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), tells Aditi Phadnis it will join forces with other trade unions if necessary to oppose the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) provisions in the Union Budget.
There were quite a few industrial lockouts that cost India a dear in 2014.
Government has no plans to appoint a regulator for overseeing labour conditions in BPO companies, Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes said on Wednesday. "Since labour laws are already applicable to BPOs and are regulated accordingly, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has no proposal to appoint a regulator for BPO companies," he said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
In a significant move towards labour law reform, negotiations have been reopened on the hire and fire policy with the government offering a unique scheme of insurance coverage for retrenched workers to overcome objections from trade unions.
'The lockdown has been a great excuse to delay payments.'
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said that India will retaliate if faced with non-tariff trade barriers for its exports.
According to a proposal by the Union labour ministry, 10 per cent of the employees or 100 workers will be needed at least to form a trade union
Paris came to a halt on Tuesday after seven labour unions went on strike, protesting President Nicolas Sarkozy's Sarkozy's plans to reform labour laws.
Labour Law in Saudi Arabia has called for replacement of foreign workers in stores by Saudi nationals.
The fifth Economic Census, 2005, released on Thursday, states that the number of hired labourers (temporary staffers) has shot up to 54.3 million in 2005, from 43.3 million in the last census conducted in 1998. In 1998, as many as 2.76 per cent of the 30.35 million establishments employed more than 10 permanent staff. This has fallen to 1.51 per cent in 2005. However, the growth of employment during 1998-2005 was 2.78 per cent per annum.
A key meeting of senior United Progressive Alliance government ministers and political parties, including the Congress and its Left allies, failed to secure a political consensus on the showpiece Special Economic Zones initiative.
The UAE and India have agreed to get rid of recruitment agencies by opening labour offices in India, Indian Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi said after a meeting with UAE Minister for Labour Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi. The offices will also educate overseas workers about UAE's labour laws and customs before they travel to the country.
Expat friendly new Saudi labour law increases annual leave from 15 to 21 days and to 30 days for those who have completed five years of service. The law also urges employers to pay end-of-service awards.
The organised sector now accepts accredited firms as labour providers for factory shop floors.
'China need not worry about a truly 'resurgent India'.' 'It's not going to happen.'
The eighth Auto Expo kicks off on Thursday promising new launches and big announcements by domestic and global automobile giants, even as the booming industry sought flexibility in labour laws to maintain the growth momentum.
Says govt offer a positive move and Wednesday's one-day stir should be deferred; others not impressed enough, especially Left
The country's textile industry is concentrated in a few pockets of Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west and Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south.
'With this amendment, permanent employees will cease to exist.' 'The government should give a human touch and human face to labour reforms.' 'Ideas like survival of the fittest, might is right, etc, are rules of the jungle.' 'They cannot give new terms like hire and fire to jungle law.'
Terming Baba Ramdev's charges against her as "diversionary tactics", Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Brinda Karat Saturday said attempts were being made to deflect attention from the core issue of violation of labour laws.
If solutions are not found, adequately and in good time, things could simply slip out of everyone's hands, warns N Sathiya Moorthy.
'The Indian economy has become like a car that has the appropriate wheels on one side -- political liberalism -- and scooter wheels -- economic illiberalism -- on the other,' points out T C A Srinivasa Raghavan.
Vetting by inter-ministerial board removed for benefits under Startup India Action Plan
'When you come through the hassles and struggles of business life, your mind is wired differently.' 'You are more connected to reality,' Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujral tells Rahul Jacob and Archis Mohan
It's a middle path for labour reforms.
'You cannot treat workers like beggars.'
The CPI-M leader accused the yoga guru of violating labour laws in his pharmacy and the Uttaranchal goverment of covering it up.
Projecting a 7 per cent growth rate in 2005-06, government's pre-budget Economic Survey on Friday outlined reforms in tax and expenditure and labour laws as a priority in the budget.
India's numbers have shown a reasonable amount of improvement.
In an interview with Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com, he talks about the economic policies of the Narendra Modi government and whether achche din is really coming.
The International Monetary Fund has asked India to speed up reforms, including removal of trade barriers, liberalisation of FDI regime and easing of labour laws, to attain over 6-6.5 per cent GDP growth.
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