Labour unrest puts focus on laws
Labour unrest puts focus on laws With most multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the state refusing to accept trade unions, Tamil N...
https://iskablogs.blogspot.com/2010/06/labour-unrest-puts-focus-on-laws.html
Labour unrest puts focus on laws
With most multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the state refusing to accept trade unions, Tamil Nadu is mulling a new law, along the lines of Maharashtra and West Bengal, to make it mandatory for companies to recognize trade unions.
The state labour department will soon form a committee to look into labour laws. It will also depute a team of joint commissioners of labour to visit West Bengal and Maharashtra to study their labour models and submit a report within three to four months, labour secretary Prabhakar Rao told The Times of India.
At present, TN laws do not mandate compulsory recognition of any trade union in a company. Multinationals prefer to manage labour relations through 'works committees ' which have representatives from various departments in the company, but the committees are sometimes seen as merely safeguarding the management's interest, resulting in more friction.
Industrial areas across the state have been in ferment in recent times. Last September, some labourers at Pricol's Coimbatore plant killed the vice-president following a strike over pay and other disputes. In the last year alone, MNCs such as Nokia and Ford have faced strikes or labour unrest.
The state's biggest investor, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, has faced several strikes by members of Hyundai Motor India Employees Union, backed by CITU, which claims to have more support from employees than the 'works committee' put in place by the company.
In January, Nokia employees at its plant in Sriperumbudur went on strike to protest against the suspension of over 50 workers following a disagreement with the management.
"We are verifying models in West Bengal and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, the labour unions with the most members get recognized, while in West Bengal, unions are recognised through a secret ballot system. In places like Karnataka and Haryana, which are also quite industrialised, there are no such labour provisions yet they are not facing any problems. We will look at all these issues and frame suitable guidelines," the labour secretary said. Once the report is filed, the state will take an appropriate decision, he added.
However, officials of some companies say forced recognition of trade unions will make the state less attractive for companies. "We came to TN after considering various laws. After committing our investments, if the government goes ahead with forceful recognition of unions, it would be tantamount to moving the goal post half way through the game," an official with an MNC said.
Trade unionists have a different view. "Having a union is a fundamental right. The state labour advisory board comprises members of five unions, representative of management of companies and the government. We have recommended to the government that the unions be recognized by the managements," said A Soundararajan of CITU.
According to the labour ministry, strikes in manufacturing and service companies across the country rose 48% in 2008 from the year before
source;TOI
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With most multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the state refusing to accept trade unions, Tamil Nadu is mulling a new law, along the lines of Maharashtra and West Bengal, to make it mandatory for companies to recognize trade unions.
The state labour department will soon form a committee to look into labour laws. It will also depute a team of joint commissioners of labour to visit West Bengal and Maharashtra to study their labour models and submit a report within three to four months, labour secretary Prabhakar Rao told The Times of India.
At present, TN laws do not mandate compulsory recognition of any trade union in a company. Multinationals prefer to manage labour relations through 'works committees ' which have representatives from various departments in the company, but the committees are sometimes seen as merely safeguarding the management's interest, resulting in more friction.
Industrial areas across the state have been in ferment in recent times. Last September, some labourers at Pricol's Coimbatore plant killed the vice-president following a strike over pay and other disputes. In the last year alone, MNCs such as Nokia and Ford have faced strikes or labour unrest.
The state's biggest investor, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, has faced several strikes by members of Hyundai Motor India Employees Union, backed by CITU, which claims to have more support from employees than the 'works committee' put in place by the company.
In January, Nokia employees at its plant in Sriperumbudur went on strike to protest against the suspension of over 50 workers following a disagreement with the management.
"We are verifying models in West Bengal and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, the labour unions with the most members get recognized, while in West Bengal, unions are recognised through a secret ballot system. In places like Karnataka and Haryana, which are also quite industrialised, there are no such labour provisions yet they are not facing any problems. We will look at all these issues and frame suitable guidelines," the labour secretary said. Once the report is filed, the state will take an appropriate decision, he added.
However, officials of some companies say forced recognition of trade unions will make the state less attractive for companies. "We came to TN after considering various laws. After committing our investments, if the government goes ahead with forceful recognition of unions, it would be tantamount to moving the goal post half way through the game," an official with an MNC said.
Trade unionists have a different view. "Having a union is a fundamental right. The state labour advisory board comprises members of five unions, representative of management of companies and the government. We have recommended to the government that the unions be recognized by the managements," said A Soundararajan of CITU.
According to the labour ministry, strikes in manufacturing and service companies across the country rose 48% in 2008 from the year before
source;TOI
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