Reorient Provisions In ESI In Tune With The Changing Times- By P D Sharma

*The Author is Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Punjab)

Ludhiana: Central government is revising the norms to form trade union in big enterprises. The proposal being worked out envisages that 10% of the employees or 100 workers will be needed at least to form a trade union. At present it takes 7 members to form a union irrespective of the size of the establishment. In big enterprises only employees will be allowed to form union. However in the unorganized sector too outside officials can become members of a union.

I have written to Labour Minister Government of India to the effect that in the unorganized sector also no outside member should be allowed.

Labour ministry government of India is integrating three laws, the Trade Union Act, the Industrial Dispute Act and the Industrial Employment (standing   order) Act into a single code for industrial relations. This is a welcome step.

I have suggested to the union labour minister to reorient provisions in E.S.I in tune with the changing times.  With respect to E.P.F the contribution of the employer is limited to the basic wages/salary. Government of India is proposing to include other benefits to the employee to be added to the basic salary/wages. This should not be done.

I have also suggested that more representatives from the industry should be included in the E.P.F board, so that balance view may be possible in policy making.

Government of India is also proposing that workers will not be allowed to go slow, ghreao sequestration premises or stage demonstration at manager’s houses. Corrosive action will not be considered legal. These are welcome steps to maintain industrial relation peace.

The work day lost in strikes climbed to 13151 in 2010 from 4247 in 2009.