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Parliament okays new trade unions bill

The Parliament on Friday approved a bill to further amend the Trade Unions Act 1926 to reduce multiplicity of trade unions, promote internal democracy and orderly growth, and regulation of the unions.

The Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2000, which had been passed by Rajya Sabha on August 2, was adopted by the Lok Sabha by voice vote.

In his reply to the debate on the Bill, Labour Minister Satyanarayan Jatiya assured the House that the Bill was not aimed at hurting interests of the workers and said the government wanted trade unions to function in a healthy atmosphere.

Dismissing criticism that there was a move to favour multinationals and big industrialists, he said workers' participation in management was also being encouraged.

Stating that industrial development and prosperity would not be possible through investment alone, Jatiya said workers would play a significant role in ensuring progress and their interests could not be ignored.

He said a comprehensive national Labour Policy would be formulated to protect the interests of workers.

Participating in the discussion, Opposition members accused the government of ignoring the interests of workers to attract greater investment.

They said the government's announcement that it would soon bring measures to amend the Contract Labour Act and Industrial Disputes Act was a 'disturbing' development for the labour sector.

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