There is a general talk about the labour reforms being necessary in the industry and business house especially in the context of FDI.  There is also demand from the trade union that the labour reform is highly necessary because some of the labour laws are out dated. In the context of the demand from the employer and workers particularly the business communities it is necessary to examine the above subject deeply and some meaningful decision should be taken in this regard.

First, to examine the demand of the investors and the industrialist as they want the labour reforms in the form of hire and fire system and should permit the management  to retrench the surplus  workers whenever they feel.  They also demand that the engagement of temporarily and contract labour in place of permanent workers and they do not want to talk about the social security net with regard to the retrenched employees or to carry the burden of higher wages to the contract workers/temporary staffs doing so, there should not be any strike, tool down etc. and disturb industrial peace.

Most of the employers do not want trade union activities in their company  and the workers involved in trade union activities are victimised and harassed.

The trade unions also demand for reforms in the labour law which means more protection for the permanent workers and their jobs and the workers should be allowed full participation in the management and all should get bonus if the industry is making profits.

The trade unions further vehemently demands implementation of the labour reforms in the first instance of the contract workers who are working on the permanent nature of work and should be made permanent. They want to improve their salary and other perquisite, pension and bonus etc. for which review of labour laws is essential to give more job protection and security.

It is the strong view of INTUC that the Govt. should seriously think over about the labour reforms as key to economic reforms. Very often it was expressed by the government that it is necessary to bring the labour reforms into force but the Govt. is not willing to bring the reforms. According to them the “problem of the industry” should be equally shared by the workers and the management.   There are a number of industries which were closed down without paying legal liabilities to the workers.  There are number of industries which are not paying the normal regular wages. The workers are suffering and not extending co-operation to the industry/business.