Industrial Relations Scenario

Industrial Relations Scenario
(a) Tripartite Bodies
(i) Industrial Relations Board headed by the Hon'ble Minister for Labour
(ii) 18 Industrial Relations Committees for major industries with the Labour Commissioner as Chairman
(b) Plantation Labour Committee (PLC) is the first IRC in the state
(c) Major issues including wages, bonus etc. are discussed and settled in these committees.
(d) Wages settlements signed before the IRCs for the major employments are notified under the Minimum Wages Act 1948 (Hence enforcement of wages is easier in these sectors compared to other sectors.)

Recognition of Trade Unions

(a) No statutory provision for recognition of Trade Unions
(b) Conducted referendum in 12 major industrial establishments in the public and private sector during the last 4 years.
(c) A legislation for compulsory recognition of Trade Unions is under consideration (A draft Bill suggesting 30% membership is already proposed)

Long term settlements

(a) Productivity-linked long-term settlements are encouraged.
(b) Including public sector undertakings, 7 long term settlements were made during the past 3 years.

Enforcement

1. Separate enforcement wing with 123 inspectors including the Labour Commissioner.
2. Separate inspectorate for plantations
3. Special squad with Inspectors of Factories and Boilers, P.F, E.S.I, Legal Meteorological Department and T.U officials for cashew industry.
4. Special squad under the supervision of DLOs (Enforcement) for inspections in establishment having 5 or more workers.
5. Classification of establishments based on number of employees for effective inspections.
6. Co-ordination of other agencies for effective enforcement (local bodies, other Government Departments. etc.)
7. Separate legislation for regulating the service conditions of headload workers.
8. Child Labour
(a) Policy of the Government is to prohibit child labour in any form (including domestic servants) in the state.
(b) A legislation for prohibition of Child Labour is under way. (A draft' Kerala Child Labour Prohibition Bill' is already proposed)
(c) A survey on Child Labour conducted in the wake of the SC judgment showed 10067 child labour, including 1081 in hazardous employments.
(d) Subsequent inspections gave improved results.
(e) Child Labour Rehabilitation-cum-Welfare Societies registered in all districts with DCs as Chairman to rehabilitate the child labours withdrawn from hazardous employments
(f) Started 15 remedial education centres for imparting two hours education for the working children.
(g) A comprehensive survey on Child Labour to assess the actual number of children engaged in various employments (including domestic service) is entrusted with the statistical department.