Parliament on Friday passed the Bill exempting small firms maintaining several resisters and filing returns related to labour related matters. Rejecting amendments moved by Saugata Roy, the lok Sabha passed the Bill, amid accusations by the Opposition that the Government was “running the agenda of Corporates and ignoring the welfare of labours”. Reacting to the charges, labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya assured the House of protection of workers in unorganised sector.
The Bill provides for changes in the original Act of 1988 to increase the number of laws under which small establishments are exempt from furnishing returns and maintaining registers from 9 to 16. It amends the definition of ‘small’ establishments to cover units employing between 10 and 40 workers as against the limit of 19 workers at present.