The demand for establishment of a Labour Court in the Baleswar has gained momentum. Various labour unions reoresentatives who have been demanding the court said the labour court would facilitate the disputes related to labourers and workers of north Odisha. They said the court would be better accessible and convenient for them instead of going to Bhubaneswar. According to the union leaders, Baleswar being an industrial district, most of the labour related disputes and grievances are being heard before the Labour Officer or Assistant Labour Commissioner and for resolving the issues conciliation means is adopted . The process is time consuming, the union leaders said.
They said the issues regarding wage, promotion, bonus, increment and retrenchment while are being heard in these courts yet most of them remain unresolved as they don’t have power to impose penalty against of defaulters once the orders are not complied with. According to reports, as many as over 1,500 cases belonging to Baleswar and Mayurbhanj related workers have been filed in the office of Assistant Labour Commissioner seeking relief. While several of them are pending, in the disposed off cases, the orders are not complied with by the industries and organisations. In the State there are only three labour courts ie in Bhubaneswar , Jeypur and Sambalpur.
And for a labour or worker of Baleswar or Mayurbhanj one has to go Bhubaneswar to get justice. The unions besides demanding a court in Baleswar also demanded an Industrial Tribunal in the district for the people of north Odisha.