Parliament on Wednesday approved three key labour reform bills on industrial relations, social security and occupational safety amid the boycott by the opposition over the suspension of eight MPs. The bills are aimed at transparency in the new business environment.
“The purpose of labour reforms is to provide a transparent system to suit the changed business environment," Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said in a reply during a debate in the house on the bills.
Parliament had passed the Code on Wages in 2019. The remaining three codes were passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. As the Rajya Sabha also passed the codes by voice vote, the bills will now be sent for the presidential assent.
The Occupational Safety Code 2020. This Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code will amend laws regulating occupational safety, health and working conditions of persons employed in an establishment and related matters.
The Industrial Relations Code 2020 will consolidate and amend laws relating to trade unions, conditions of employment in industrial establishments or undertaking, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes.
The Code on Social Security 2020, will amend and consolidate laws relating to social security of all employees and workers in the organised sector and the unorganised sector. The bill also includes provision for social security fund for around 40 crore unorganised sector workers, Gangwar said.
These three labour reform bills would ensure safety and security of all workers employed in an establishment by expanding the ambit of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation and Employees' State Corporation of India, the Labour Minister said.
