Trade Unions slam government proposal to set up factory workers' panel

In what could affect the government's plan to set up an independent mechanism to deal with the terms and conditions covering factory workers, trade unions have slammed the proposal saying that giving sweeping powers to the board will be detrimental to the employees. As part of the amendments to the Factories Act, 1948, thelabour ministry had proposed constituting an Occupational Safety and Health Board of India, comprising a chairman and two members appointed by the government. 

According to the draft of the Act circulated to all stakeholders for their comments, the board would be responsible for framing regulations on occupational safety, health, welfare and general working conditions of the workers in factories as well as regulating the functioning of employers. It is also proposed to have the power of licensing. 

According to a majority of trade unions that ET spoke to, including the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the structure and functions of the board suggest that it would be an independent body with extraordinary powers to regulate through notifications, unlike the Act where changes require Parliament's approval. Therefore, they see this proposed changes as dangerous to the welfare of workers. 

"The government has vested too much powers to the proposed board which is not acceptable as everything will be driven through a simple notification and forced upon the workers," said DL Sachdeva, national secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress. 

A majority of trade unions felt that no such board was required to be set up under the Factories Act, AD Nagpal of Hind Mazdoor Sabhasaid. "This board does not have a defined role for trade unions and hence we are against any such proposal," he said. Pawan Kumar of BMS said the government should revisit the structure and function of the board and that the proposal in its current form was not acceptable.

Source:-The Economic Times