On Monday, Labour and Employment Secretary Apurva Chandra said that as per the new labour codes companies will have the flexibility of four working days in a week, but the mandated 48 hours limit will remain the same. However, the government has clarified that companies may have the option to choose for a four-day week but employees will have to adjust to long shifts. The complete process of finalising the four labour codes is still on.
The labour minister said that consultations with the states have been done, while states/UT of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and J&K also expected to formulate their draft rules for state-level labour codes within a week. Free medical check-ups to workers through the Employees State Insurance Corporation is also on board, said Chandra.
According to the report of Business Standard, Labour secretary Apurva Chandra has said several companies are interested in implementing a four-day work shift. "We have tried to give flexibility in working days. It is entirely possible that some employers may want to provide a five-day week. We have also come across employers who said they are keen to provide a four-day working week," Chandra said.
Chandra further added, “It (working days) could come down below five. If it is four, then you have to provide three paid holidays so if it has to be a seven day week, then it has to be divided into 4 or 5 or 6 working days.”
48-hour weekly working hours limit will remain the same, he said as it is “sacrosanct”.
Development of a web portal for registration and facilities of the workers in the unorganised sectors, including gig, platform workers and migrant workers is also in process. The enrolled workers on the portal will be given an incentive of free coverage for one year for accidental and disability cover under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bhima Yojana.
“Rulemaking process is already underway and likely to be completed in the coming week. All stakeholders are also consulted in the framing of rules. This ministry would soon be in a position to bring into force the four Codes, viz., Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) and Social Security Codes,” Chandra said.
The Labour Ministry is thinking of implementing the four labour codes from April 1 this year in one go and in the final part of merging all 44 central labour laws into four broad codes on wages, industrial relations, social security and OSH.
Speaking on the unions’ reactions, Chandra said that the move will be opposed only if the firms do not allow employees a three-day consecutive leave.
Notably, the four labour codes were passed in Parliament in September 2020 by the Centre, following draft rules formulated in December.
Work on four new surveys for Migrant workers, Domestic workers, Employment generated by Professionals and Transport Sector by the Labour Bureau. The Bureau will also commission ‘All India Establishment based Employment Survey ‘.
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Hailing the fur new labour codes, India Inc has claimed that they will encourage much-needed investment and create more jobs in the country, on other hand, some believe the law is in favour of employers.
New reformations in the labour laws make hiring and firing easy for companies and make it difficult for the unions to go on strike without prior 60-day notice. Experts say it will make the future uncertain for employees. Some, however, disagree saying millennials prefer easy and flexible employment terms.