Kharge suggests reconsidering ‘three’ new Labour laws, Minister corrects him in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi, Dec 9 :Citing withdrawal of the three contentious farm laws, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday suggested to the government to reconsider the new labour laws and withdraw them.
Raising the issue during Question Hour in the Upper House, Kharge said that labour unions have raised concerns around the three new labour laws and given representations to the government.
“Three (labour) laws which have been brought, you would have received representations from trade unions. They all are of the view that the three laws are not in favour of the labour force from the point of view of (social) security, employment and assured wages,” he said.
“You brought three black laws for farmers and then withdrew them under pressure of the farmers who organised themselves and protested. But here it is about unorganised workers, organised wokers and those working in small factories engaged in MSMEs and micro industries,” Kharge said.
“Will you reconsider the labour laws and withdraw them?” Kharge wanted to know from Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav.
Replying to Kharge, the Labour Minister corrected him saying there are not three but four labour laws.
“I would like to correct the Hon’ble Leader of Opposition (LoP). There are not three but four labour laws. The four labour codes are the Code on Wages, the Code on Social Security, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code and the Industrial Relations code,” Yadav said.
“On all these laws, rules are being framed by state governments and the process of issuing notification is in progress. As many as 23 states have completed notifications related works and most states have sent them to their legal departments for vetting and publication including those states where Congress is in power,” the Labour Minister said.
UNI