Oscar Fernandes calls for review of industrial disputes resolution system

New Delhi, Sept 22 : Union Minister of Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandesoday called for a review of the industrial disputes resolution system, suggesting that it should be in sync with the policy of economic liberalization and restructuring.

Inaugurating the Third India-EU Seminar on "Employment Relations and Resolution of Conflicts" here, Fernandes said that the industrial resolution system should focus on bipartite consultation, building of trust by information sharing at enterprise level and promote voluntary arbitration rather than resolution of disputes through adjudication.

"The relationship between the employer and the employee is based on mutual adjustment of interests and goals-of course involving economic, social, psychological and political factors. Therefore, a continuous dialogue between the two parties is a pre-requisite to a sound and healthy relationship for the economic prosperity of the establishment they work for and for the nation," he added.

He said the changing role of the State competitive pressures of globalization, technological changes, the changing work ethics, resultant contractualisation and outsourcing have impacted employer-employee relations in the country.

Farnandes further said that India has a long tradition of social dialogue. Tripartite consultations among government, employers and workers organizations in industry commenced as early as 1944 with the establishment of the Indian Labour Conference (ILC), the Standing Labour Committee (SLC) and over 35 tripartite bodies to deal with issues like minimum wages, social security benefits, education and training, safety and health etc. both in the organized and unorganized sectors.

He said that Article 19 of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of association as a fundamental right. It was further recognized in the Trade Union Act, 1926; the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1948.

"Employment and industrial relations scenario in India has been undergoing rapid transformations, coinciding with the advent and spread of globalistation and there are four broad temporal phases (1947-1965, 1966-1977, 1980-1991 and 1991 till date) in the employment and industrial relations history in India," he added.

EU member countries, representatives from International Labour Organisation, labour unions, manufacturing units and representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Employment are attending the two-day seminar.

ANI