Fast-tracking the long-pending reforms in labour laws, the Government on Thursday introduced the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and the Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, 2014 in the Lok Sabha.

However, both the Bills were introduced amid discontent voiced by members of the Congress and CPI (M), as these were not circulated to members two days prior to being introduced. But the Speaker said she used her discretion to do so after receiving a request in this regard from the Labour Minister.

Congress’ demand

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who was Labour Minister in the UPA regime, while accepting the Speaker’s verdict, said “We objected because this (Factories Bill) is a very important legislation as the lives of crore of workers are involved. Nobody has seen the added amendments.”

The Speaker assured the House that the Bill would be circulated well in advance for the members to speak on it, adding “You will get sufficient time for debate, you can also give your amendments.”

The new Factories Bill has quite a few amendments ranging from increasing the limit of overtime for workers from 50 hours a quarter to 100 hours, improving safety of workers, especially in hazardous units, and allowing women to work on night shifts between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., as also changes in maternity and other leave benefits.

“The main objective is to ensure adequate safety measures and to promote the health and welfare of workers employed in factories,” said the statement of object and reasons of the Bill stated by Labour Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

The Apprentices Bill seeks to provide apprenticeship training to non-engineering graduates and diploma holders, adding new vocations, such as IT-enabled services, allows employers to engage apprentices from other States and formulate their own policies for recruiting apprentices, among other things.

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