The BJP and the Congress on Tuesday joined hands to brush aside the opposition of the left parties and pass the labour Reforms Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The labour laws (Exemption from Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by certain Establishments) Amendment Bill, 2011, seeks to simplify procedures for establishments employing up to 40 workers in maintaining registers and submitting returns electronically under 16 labour laws instead of nine laws.
The Bill that was brought by the UPA Government in 2011 was brought by NDA Government in Rajya Sabha after incorporating Standing Committee’s suggestions. The Bill was passed on Tuesday through a division vote with 49 members voting in favour of amendments and 19 against them. The Bill was passed amid a walk out by CPI, CPI (M) and JD(U) members. It now goes to lok Sabha for its nod.
Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI-M) while opposing the legislation said trade unions have strongly objected to this. “This Bill will throw the workers to the mercy of employers since all the penalty clauses have been removed,” Sen said while adding that the measures to amend the Act would dilute it further from inspections for ensuring the welfare of employees. Sen, Sitaram Yechury, P Rajeeve and D Raja (CPI) later sought amendments in certain clauses which was defeated when Congress voted with the Government. This prompted Yechury to take a dig at the Congress asking whether they were with the government or the Opposition.
Interestingly, initiating the discussion, Madhusudan Mistry of Congress criticised the legislation saying it went against the interests of labour. Mistry said that he was personally against the Bill even though his party was supporting it.
JD(U)’s KC Tyagi also opposed the Bill saying the ‘reforms’ will bring further miseries to the working class. “This Government is following the foot steps of the previous Government,” said SP’s Vishambhar Prasad Nishad opposed the bill. BSP’s Satish Chandra Misra threw a shaft of sarcasm on the treasury benches and the main Opposition Congress saying this is one Bill that was initially brought by the UPA now has even NDA praising it.
Bill to set up 4 IIITs taken up in lS
A Bill to bring four Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT) under the ambit of a single authority was on Tuesday taken up in lok Sabha, a move that was welcomed by members from across the political spectrum. Moving the Indian Institutes of Information and Technology Bill, 2014, for consideration, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said its passage would help realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of ‘Digital India’.
Another Bill to set up one more Central university in Bihar was also taken up for discussion in the lok Sabha. The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2014, was first introduced by Irani in the House in August. The new central university, named after Mahatma Gandhi, would come up at Motihari in East Champaran.