Editorial
Gaps in new labour law
Address the lacunae
THE International Labour Organisation is unhappy with the amended labour law enacted recently. The body however commended the government for taking steps to better compensate workers for work-related deaths and coverage of medical treatment for occupational diseases, gratuity and maternity benefits. The limited scope for trade unionism and collective bargaining remain principal bones of contention. The new law does not in fact comply with two provisions of ILO, i.e. Conventions 87 and 88; freedom of association and right to organise, and collective bargaining.
Indeed, many areas that had been previously agreed to in the Tripartite Consultative Meeting have not been included in the new law. The ministry of labour had previously agreed to allow workers to allow 20 per cent non-factory workers to be allowed to become members of the union. The law allows for 10 per cent in case of public sector and none for the private sector. With regards to the requirement of 30 per cent membership to form a union, it is felt that the rule may make it difficult for workers to organise unions in larger companies employing thousands of workers spread across many factories.
Given that the United States also holds similar reservations about the amended Act that has been passed and linked future amendments made to the reinstatement of GSP facilities, it is only in our best interest that the government work with ILO to sort out differences at the earliest and hammer out a law meeting international standards.
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