K'taka to amend labour laws soon

Bangalore, Dec 5 (UNI) Karnataka will amend labour laws shortly, taking into consideration the suggestions made by various trade and business chambers, State Labour Principal Secretary K Jothiramalingam has said.

Addressing a seminar on 'Labour - Key Issues for Consensus and Reform', organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce here yesterday, he said the State Scrutiny Committee had cleared all proposals with regard to amendment of old labour laws in the State.

On contract labour laws, Mr Jothiramalingam said a progressive State like Karnataka was not against it, but was requesting the concerned departments or the industry to get themselves registered.

''If this is what the industry wants, we will give it. Any industry can have contract labour, provided they are registered,'' he said.

With regard to allowing women to work in night shifts, he said ''We have an open mind and are taking certain steps to see that we are much more progressive than any other State.'' In his welcome address, BCIC President Venkat Kedlaya said rigid and inflexible labour laws came in the way of investments into the country and it also affected India's standing in the world economy.

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