Keralam to form special panel to study Labour Codes, implementation

The Kerala government has established a special committee, comprised of trade union representatives, to assess the implementation of the Labour Codes and provide practical recommendations for drafting state-specific regulations. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan presided over a meeting with labour ministry officials, trade union leaders, and other government representatives, held at the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

The committee is tasked with submitting its report within ten days of its formation. The Secretary of the Labour Department and an Additional Secretary from the Law Department will serve as the convener and member, respectively. Seven representatives from various trade unions and officials from the Labour Department will also be part of the panel.

The committee aims to address concerns about the uncertainty surrounding the replacement of old labor laws and their non-implementation. The Chief Minister emphasized that the final decision on implementing the Labour Codes will be made after considering the legal aspects and all stakeholder viewpoints. The government plans to adopt measures within the legal framework to minimize the impact of the new codes and safeguard workers' interests.

During the meeting, the State government expressed its commitment to protecting workers' rights and interests. It also pledged to address apprehensions regarding the definition and threshold for workers under the Labour Codes, advocating for a reduction in the threshold limit. The Chief Minister assured that the State would take all necessary measures to protect workers' rights and interests.

Trade unions were informed that they would be given an opportunity to suggest necessary amendments to the draft prepared in 2021. The committee will circulate the draft recommendations to all trade unions, and other unions will also be allowed to attend meetings in person and share their views and suggestions. All participating trade unions expressed a unified position on the need to protect workers' interests.