MP Cabinet ayes new labour policy

Bhopal, June 14 (UNI) A new labour policy primarily aimed at welfare of unorganised labour and agricultural labour, granting inspection powers to panchayatiraj bodies and providing for layoff and closure of factories on certain conditions was approved by the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet today.

''The policy, which provides for bringing all labour courts under the High Court's purview, is mainly based on suggestions by an eight-member committee comprising trade union representatives led by Labour Welfare Board Chairman Sunder Singh Shakwar,'' School Education Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters after a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The policy provided for strict implementation of minimum wages and associating child labour below 14 years with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Regular meetings of different committees would be organised and such committees would be reconstituted after the stipulated period.

Illegal lockout and strikes would be discouraged but layoff or closure would be permitted on merit after taking workers' interests into consideration. The procedure for granting licences to factories would be simplified and the joint director or deputy directors empowered to grant such licences for factories employing upto 500 workers.

The three-tier inspection system by assistant directors, deputy directors and joint directors would be abolished in factories barring those categorised as hazardous.

With central assistance, a model hospital for workers would be set up in the state, while a labour resources centre would also be established to facilitate training, study, research and analysis.

UNI