The attempts by some state governments to bring in sweeping changes in their labour laws, including extension of work time to beyond eight hours a day and suspend key labour laws for three years or more will not be entertained by the Centre, the labour ministry has told the relevant parliamentary standing committee on Monday.
“The labour ministry has said that extension of working hours beyond eight hours is illegal and can’t be allowed to happen. All states will have to adhere to the provisions of the labour codes which would be before Parliament in the monsoon season,” BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahatab, who heads the committee, told FE.
To lure investment and make operations of business viable amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have announced sweeping changes in labour laws, either through the ordinance route or executive orders, including scrapping of some provisions of the relevant laws for three years or more.
Under Section 5 of the Factories Act, during a public emergency that is threatening the security of the country or any part of it, whether by war or external aggression or internal disturbances, a state government may by issue notification to exempt any factory or class of factories from all or any provision of the Act, except section 67 (related to working hours) for a maximum of three months.
Source: Financial Express
