Power for blue-collar workers

A move to empower workers in the unorganised sector — both agriculture and non-agriculture — is on the cards.

A move to empower workers in the unorganised sector — both agriculture and non-agriculture — is on the cards. This includes providing them with wage slips, employment letters, right to form trade unions as well as basic amenities like child care facilities and housing for migrant labourers.

The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sectors has finalised two draft bills — Unorganised Agricultural Sector Workers (Conditions of Work and Livelihood Promotion) Bill 2007 and Unorganised non-Agriculture Sector Workers (Conditions of Work and Livelihood Promotion) Bill 2007 — in this regard.

The drafts bills were prepared after incorporating the views of various stakeholders on the Unorganised Sector Workers (Conditions of Work and Livelihood Promotion) Bill 2005. The bills are being sent to the different stakeholders for their opinions.

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Moreover, the panel has also proposed that the maximum work hours should be limited to eight hours, beyond which the employees are entitled to extra “overtime” payment. Adolescents (14 to18 years) cannot be put on night duty.

The Commission has suggested the constitution of a National Fund for Unorganised Workers (Agricultural & Non Agricultural) by the Centre to be utilised for programmes and projects recommended by the National Board for Promotion of Livelihood of Unorganised Workers (Agricultural) and National Board for Promotion of Livelihood of Unorganised Workers (non-agricultural) as provided for in the two Bills.

Major proposals in the draft bills

• Unorganised agriculture and non-agriculture worker shall receive details of remuneration received by him/ her in a form prescribed by the state government

• These workers shall receive a letter of employment from the employer stating the terms of employment

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• Workers—both wage workers and self-employed—shall have the right to organise, by forming trade unions or other membership-based organisations, for representation and collective bargaining

• No employer shall discriminate on grounds of sex, caste, religion, incidence of HIV/AIDS, migration status, place of origin, in employment, wage rate or conditions of work

• The State Board for Promotion of Livelihood of Unorganised Non-Agricultural Sector Workers shall make rules with respect to child care facility to be made available at local levels

• Provisions for lighting, drinking water, washing facilities, first-aid box at place of work as well as reasonable housing and provision of basic amenities for seasonal migrant workers shall be specified in the rules