Amendment to Contract Labour Act soon

Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that government has set up a committee on how to regulate the wages and service conditions of contract labour.

However the minister ruled out any proposal of abolishing contract labour system.
“Based on that report, if an amendment (in the Contract Labour Regulation and Amendment Act) is necessary, it will be done,” he said.

He also said that the report could help address issues like uneven wages to contract workers and employment of contract workers in jobs, where regular workers should be working.

Outsourcing to continue

However the minister said there is no proposal before the government to end the system of contract jobs and outsourcing.

On the issue of increase in EPF interest rate from 8.5 per cent to 9.5 per cent, MallikarjunKharge expressed confidence that the proposal would get the Finance Ministry’s approval by March.