K'taka Govt contemplates change in Labour Laws

Bangalore, Jun 30 (UNI) Bowing to ''pressure'' from industries, the Karnataka Government is contemplating to make certain changes to the Labour Laws in the state.

Labour Minister B N Bachegowda today assured the 31st General Body of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) that the state government was seriously looking at amending the Karnataka Shops and Establishment Act and Factories Act and would look into the contract labour issues.

It would also consider amending the Acts, allowing women to work in night shifts if the companies provided foolproof security to them along with vehicles at their doorstep.

He said the state was ahead of the nation in labour productivity at 8.84 per cent, calculated during 2004-05, while net value added to wages was also higher than the national average.

''We will consider rationalising and simplifying provisions of various Labour Laws to enable flexibility and increase industrial production to make the state an attractive destination for national and international investments,'' he said.

He said IT and ITeS sector had provided a big boost for employment of woman and the government would extend all help to the sector. However, the industry should ensure maximum security to the fairer sex, he added.

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