No ordinance to amend labour laws, says minister

New Delhi, May 6

Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Wednesday scotched speculations, saying the Centre had no plans to promulgate an ordinance to ring in amendments to the labour laws, including increasing the present statutory working hours of workers.

In a meeting with representatives of 12 central trade unions through Internet, Gangwar underlined that the proposed amendments to the laws would be actualised through only the legislative route.

The government has set in motion to merge and rationalise all the 44 laws into four Labour Codes, to be passed by Parliament. Out of the four related Bills introduced in Parliament, only the related Payment of Wages Code has been passed, and enacted into a law.

During the discussion, Gangwar informed that the government will welcome any suggestion from the unions regarding welfare of workers. Other unions whose representatives took part in the discussion include INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS and TUCC. — TNS