Amid protests, the government on Tuesday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the Trade Unions Act, 1926. .
The Bill, the government said, would grant recognition to trade unions, ensure representation of workers in tripartite bodies and check arbitrary nomination by the government.
CPI(M) members walked out in protest.
Though the Trade Union Law provides for registration of trade unions, there is no provision for recognition.
Opposition members attacked the government for introducing the Bill on a day when major central trade unions had called for a two-day strike against the “anti-labour” policies of the government. Ten trade unions, including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC have called for the strike. “Six unions are not participating in the strike. There is no impact of the ongoing strike,” Mr. Gangwar countered. “When the Bill comes up for discussion, all the issues can be discussed,” he added.
But even before the introduction, Opposition members registered their protest. Shashi Tharoor from Congress, M.B. Rajesh and A. Sampath from CPI(M) and N.K. Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party opposed to the manner it was introduced.
Mr. Tharoor asked the Bill to be referred to the Standing Committee as it has been introduced in a hurry and gives discretionary powers to the government on the subject.