August 10, 2016
Aparupa Poddar speaks on The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Thank you, Deputy Speaker Sir, for allowing me to speak on The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
This Bill aims to ensure the safety measures and promote the health of the workers employed in the factory. I strongly oppose the Bill on the behalf of my party All India Trinamool Congress because we have seen many contractual and casual workers do not have medical check up, no medical compensation. In many plants when workers die, their bodies disappear and as they are contractual workers no records are there; no compensation is paid. It is elementary to democracy that when a worker is working in a factory he or she must work in a secure environment; this is not implemented.
The amendment should cover the loopholes of the law and make them fool-proof. Under this Act the inspectors come to the factory for inspection, they have a healthy relation with the factory owner but please bother to see the environment of the factory.
Does the Factory Act remain unimplemented for decades? Therefore the system of good inspectors has failed and we need to replace it in wider civil concept. In section 56 it is suggested to extend work hours to 12 hours which is totally inhuman and will impact the health condition of the workers. Section 64 and 65 of the Act suggest increasing the overtime hours from existing hours to quarter 100 hours. It is an anti-labour Bill and it is industry-friendly Bill. The provision of safety for women workers who work in the night shift should be looked after; it is the basic need of worker.
The government needs to enlarge the concept of monitoring system, inspection of the system where government official make huge irregularities in carrying out so-called routine inspection in the factory. I recommend this Bill be sent to the Standing Committee.
I would ask only one question to the Hon’ble Minister through you, Sir. Every civilian is allowed to go to the court but when the worker has to go to the court they have to seek permission from the government through Labour Commission which is a very lengthy process. Is the Government thinking anything on it?
It is high time that this government, which is speaking of Digital India, must ensure that workers’ rights should not be infringed upon. For the last two years the government claims to be working for improving India, but transforming India into a developed nation is not even on the horizon yet.
Thank you, Sir.
