Under The Cover Of Lockdown

With lockdown in force, governments across the globe are scrambling to implement steps they were unable to take due to opposition from people and political parties. India is no exception, and the government is blatantly diluting crucial laws in favour of the industry KUNDAN PANDEY analyses changes in labour laws, ISHAN KUKRETI on environmental laws and SHAGUN KAPIL on agricultural laws

- Ritika Bohra

Soon after the world observed Inter-national Labour Day, India has scurried along a road that curtails the rights of its workers. On May 6, Uttar Pradesh increased the labourers’ working hours from eight to 10. The state announced it would suspend 35 of the 38 labour laws for the three years. The step, it said, would bring “on track” economic activity that has stopped due to the lockdown clamped after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. “New investment opportunities would need to be created along with fastening the business processes and productivity,” a statement issued by the state government said.

To formalise the process, the state has issued an ordinance. Once enforced, Uttar Pradesh would barely have a few functional labour laws. The Trade Unions Act, Industrial Disputes Act, Act on Occupational Safety and Health, Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Rules, Interstate Migrant Workmen Act, Equal Remuneration Act, and the Maternity Benefit Act would all be put on hold.