November 28, 2019
Saugata Roy opposes the introduction of the Industrial Relations Code, 2019
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Sir, under Rule 72(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the conduct of business in Lok Sabha, I beg to oppose the introduction of the Industrial Relations Code, 2019.
As I mentioned earlier also that nobody, none of the workers, came to the government and said that bring an Industrial Relations Code. This has been the demand of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce Confederation of Industries; they want an Industrial Relations Code.
Sir, you will be surprised that the Trade Union Act, 1926 has been there for ninety years. Nobody has said that it should be replaced. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, has been there for seventy years. Suddenly the Minister gets it into his head that he must compound all this into a single code. Nobody asked.
Now when he has done this single code, he has limited certain rights of the workers which are inherent. Mr Premchandran mentioned some of that as to who can be the president of TUD; we are presidents of many unions. We need not be workers, the workers chose that’s why we are presidents. But what is more dangerous in this Bill, is that it prohibits strikes. Prohibition of strikes takes away fundamental rights of workmen, so this is anti-labour.
I propose that instead of putting the Bill for discussion let him refer it to Standing Committee of Labour. I am sure that they will support a pro-labour legislation.
Thank you.
