Lok Sabha Question No. 3541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-15
Subject: Labour Reforms
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3541 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.07.2019

## LABOUR REFORMS

## 3541. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK RAUT: SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN: SHRI SRIRANGA APPA BARNE:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Union  and  State  Governments  need  to  pursue  labour law  reforms  as  they  are  necessary  for  improving  investment  and generating employment;
- (b)if  so,  whether  SBI  has  prepared  research  report  'Ecowrap'  on  this issue, if so, the facts in this regard;
- (c)whether  the  Ministry  has  studied  the  aforesaid  report,  if  so,  the
- findings thereof;
- (d)whether  the  initiatives  taken  towards  labour  law  reforms  till  date are 'miniscule', if so, the facts thereof and the steps taken by the Government thereon;
- (e)whether a national policy for domestic workers needs to be brought in  separately at the earliest to recognise their rights and promote better working conditions; and
- (f)if so, the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) to (d): Reforms  in  labour  laws  are  an  ongoing  process  to update the legislative system to address the need of the hour so as to make them more effective, flexible and in sync with emerging

economic  and  industrial  scenario. The  Ministry  has  taken  steps  for drafting  four  Labour  Codes  on  Wages;  Industrial  Relations;  Social Security;  and  Occupational  Safety,  Health  and  Working  Conditions respectively, by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalizing the relevant provisions of the existing Central  Labour  Laws.  These initiatives will reduce the complexity in compliance due to multiplicity of  labour  laws  and  facilitate  setting  up  of  enterprises  and  thus creating the environment for development of business and industry in the country and generating employment opportunities without diluting basic aspects of safety, security and health of workers.

This  Ministry  has  not  received  any  research  report  in  the name of  'Ecowrap' from the State Bank of India on Labour Reforms.

- (e) & (f): A  Draft  National  Policy  on  Domestic  Workers  is  under consideration of the Central Government.  The salient features of the proposed draft National Policy on Domestic Workers are as under:-
- (i) Inclusion of Domestic Workers  in the existing legislations
- (ii) Domestic workers will have the right to register as unorganized      workers.  Such  registration  will  facilitate  their access to rights & benefits.
- (iii) Right to form their own associations/unions.
- (iv) Right to minimum wages, access to social security.
- (v) Right to enhance their skills.
- (vi) Protection of Domestic Workers from abuse and exploitation.
- (vii)  Domestic  Workers  to  have  access  to  courts,  tribunals  for grievance redressal.
- (viii)  Establishment  of  a  mechanism  for  regulation  of  private placement agencies.

(ix)Establishment  of  a  grievance  redressal  system  for  domestic workers.

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