Draft report recommends increasing minimum wage for implementation of labour laws in Kerala

A draft report prepared for the implementation of four new labour laws in the state of Kerala was submitted to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan by Labour Minister Bindu Krishna on Wednesday. According to a report by 'The Hindu', the report has made important recommendations to increase the minimum wage for workers and to expand the scope of eligibility for bonus and other benefits. Additionally, suggestions have been made to grant the state government more autonomy in matters such as lockouts and lay-offs. The Kerala government is yet to frame the rules for these four labour laws, which were announced by the Central Government last year in November.

A meeting was held on 22 October under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to prepare this report, in which it was decided to constitute a committee to provide practical recommendations for the implementation of labour laws. This committee included the Labour Commissioner as the convener, the Additional Secretary of the Law Department, representatives of seven trade unions, and officials from the Labour Department. After conducting various discussions and investigations for 10 days, this committee submitted its report to the Labour Minister. The report recommends amending the laws to ensure workers' welfare, employment security, wages, and other benefits.

The main recommendations of the report include a change in the definition of a worker's family. Currently, three members are counted in a family, and there is a proposal to increase this to five members, which will also include parents. This change will bring a shift in the calculation for determining minimum wages, resulting in workers receiving higher wages. Furthermore, a provision for free medical check-ups has also been suggested for workers engaged in hazardous occupations. For women workers, strict security guidelines have been included in the conditions for working during the night to ensure their safety.

Labour Minister Bindu Krishna stated that the rights and interests of workers will be fully protected during the implementation of the labour laws. The committee also examined the concerns regarding labour laws in Kerala and the representations made by trade unions. Earlier, an expert committee appointed under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Judge V. Gopal Gowda had also submitted its report to the government regarding legal reforms in January this year.

These four labour laws implemented by the Central Government include the Code on Wages, the Industrial Relations Code, the Code on Social Security, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code. These new laws have replaced the previous 29 old laws.