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Our Bureau

The Minister for Labour and Employment, Mr Sis Ram Ola, meeting with trade union leaders in the Capital on Thursday. - Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , May 27

TRADE unions have successfully bulldozed their way into influencing Government policy-making on labour issues.

The UPA Government's common minimum programme (CMP) has said that the Government would consult trade unions whenever changes are being contemplated in labour laws.

While rejecting outright the idea of "automatic hire and fire", the CMP has said "it recognises that some changes in labour laws may be required but such changes must fully protect the interests of workers and families and must take place after full consultation with trade unions."

Leading trade unions had submitted its charter of demands to the Labour Minister, Mr Sis Ram Ola, containing suggestions for the CMP. The unions had requested the Labour Minster to forward their concerns to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

At another place, the CMP says that the UPA would "pursue a dialogue with industry and trade unions on this issue (changes of labour laws) before coming up with specific proposals." It has, however, said that no major changes were being contemplated in the Industrial Disputes Act (IDA).

The UPA has said that the process of consultation would be the Government's focus on labour-management relations and that wherever required tripartite consultations including trade unions would be held.

"The UPA Government firmly believes that labour-management relations in our country must be marked by consultations, cooperation and consensus, not confrontation.

"Tripartite consultation with trade unions and industry on all proposals concerning them will be actively pursued. Right and benefits earned by workers, including the right to strike according to law, will not be take away or curtailed."

More Stories on : Politics | Trade & Labour Unions

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