Mass Casual Leave To Be Treated As Strike

Govt introduces Bill in LS amalgamating three labour laws

Any mass casual leave by workers will be treated as a strike, if the Industrial Relations Code Bill becomes law. The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha, proposes to modify the definition of strike.

The Bill, introduced by Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar, also defines ‘fixed term employment’ and sets conditions before certain establishments can lay off staff. Though Opposition parties such as the Congress protested against the Bill terming it ‘anti-labour’ and demanded that it be referred to the Department-related Standing Committee, no decision was taken. The Minister assured the House that nothing in the Bill is against the rights of workers.