JOIN USUnion Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday, said the failure in enforcing labour laws has led to events like the violence at Maruti Suzuki plant.
Addressing the State Labour Ministers Conference on Thursday, Kharge said labour laws should be enforced strictly. His observations are significant in the wake of increasing violent incidents in some of the important industrial establishments of the country. It could also be seen as some sort an indictment against the labour practices adopted by these companies.
“Enforcement of the Labour Laws has to be followed strictly. Failure in this area has led to the recent flaring of incidents at Maruti Suzuki plant in Haryana, Regency Ceramics, Yanam, Puducherry and Neyveli Lignite Limited in Tamil Nadu,” said the minister.
“Respect for industrial democracy and aiming towards high industrial growth should go hand in hand. Our trade union movement has a proud legacy and entrepreneurs of our country are respected world over,” he said and advised the employers not to turn a blind eye towards the labour statutes.
However, he also reminded workers that they should not take law into their hands.
“Workers should refrain from taking law into their own hands. Our employers and workers should conduct themselves in such a way that they earn the respect of the whole world,” Kharge told them.
The Labour Minister asked states to effectively implement the labour laws and said: “Legislation related to minimum wages, contract labour, industrial disputes and working conditions in the factories affects the life of the working class in a very significant way.”
Kharge emphasised proper implementation of minimum wage and said, “The proposed National Floor Level Minimum Wage is expected to reduce inter-state and inter-employment disparity,” he added.