Four labour codes to standardize wages and ensure worker welfare: Tripura Minister Tinku Roy

Tripura Labour Minister Tinku Roy on Thursday said that the four labour codes introduced by the Centre will ensure the welfare and safety of all sections of workers, including those engaged in vulnerable sectors.

Addressing a press conference, Roy said the Modi government has streamlined the labour system by merging as many as 29 laws into four labour codes. “This move has ended the inspector raj in the factory and industrial sectors,” he added.

The minister said the new codes would enable uniform implementation of wages across the country, which was previously not possible due to different systems followed by various states. Terming the labour codes timely and aligned with rapidly changing professions and industrial structures, he added that the provisions also allow women to work night shifts across sectors with uniform wages.

Referring to the provision for flexible working days, Roy said workers would benefit under the new framework. “Workers will not be forced to work 48 hours a week. If they complete 48 hours of work in four days, they will get the remaining three days off to take up additional work. However, Leftist trade unions are misleading workers,” he alleged.

Roy also rejected accusations that the new labour codes dilute the power of trade unions. “The Industrial Relations Code, which is part of the four labour codes, mandates that a union with the support of 51 per cent of the total workforce will be allowed to sit with management in case of disputes. The union with majority support will represent the entire workforce,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Left-affiliated trade union CITU on Thursday staged a rally protesting against the Centre’s labour codes and expressed concern over their possible impact on workers.

If the four labour codes are implemented, the future of workers will be bleak. That is why many organizations, including CITU, are strongly opposing these codes, said CITU state Secretary Manik Dey.