The Central Government wage code rules must be in the line of ILO convention 131, ILO recommendation – 135, ILO Convention-1 and ILO Convention 81 and Central Government must take the trade unions into confidence and call a tripartite meeting to take a final decision in this regard, said former MP and national vice president INTUC, Dr RC Khuntia while participating in a virtual discussion on wage code arranged by the National Labour Law Association in July 22.
The decision to extend the working hours from 8 hours to 12 hours by some State Governments and suspension of all labours laws for 1,000 day in Gujurat, UP and MP is not acceptable to the working class in India, he told. The working class may move the Supreme Court, ILO or plan national wide agitation programme to protest against such anti labour policy of the Government, he said.
In view of the Covid 19 pandemic situation and lockdown and shutdown declared by the Central Government and State Government, about 13.9 million migrant workers, 5 crore construction workers, 14.5 crore MGNREGA workers, contract and casual workers have lost their wages. Hence some clause to be added in the wage rules to protect the wage of workers in view of such pandemic situation, Dr Khuntia demanded.
The Central trade union representatives and specialist in labour laws and a Delhi University Professor among others participated in the discussion and president of Labour Law Associations Dr Prabin Sinha moderated.
