The limit of 48 hours’ work per week is sacrosanct: Labour Ministry

NEW DELHI: The new labour codes, currently in the process of finalization, are set to be implemented soon. According to Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, the new codes will provide companies the flexibility of reducing the number of working days to four days a week. Although, reduced working days would mean longer working hours per day.

Chandra said that the Ministry of Labour and Employment is looking forward to bring four codes into force which include, Code on Wages; Industrial Relations; Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH); and Social Security Codes. The Ministry is planning to implement these new labour codes from April 1.

Apurva stated to the reporters that the draft rules under the labour codes are being finalized. He said that many states are still in the process of framing their rules and some, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, would be ready with their drafts this week. He also assured that the concerns risen over the increase in working hours from 10.5 hours to 12 hours (with one hour of rest) is being addressed.

Chandra mentioned that the limit of working hours for a week is 48 hours under the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code 2020 draft rules, and that this limit is ‘sacrosanct’. He added that the employers and workers would have to agree to a change in their working days, and companies will not require prior government approval to enact provision of reduced or same number of working days. Chandra said that the new rules will still imply three paid holidays. He added, “It is an enabling provision in sync with the changing work culture.”

According to the Secretary, the new codes will provide free medical check-ups to workers through the Employees State Insurance Corporation, so that the employers would not have to bear the cost. He also mentioned that a portal for collecting information on gig, building and construction workers would be started by May or June this year. The portal is being developed to help in formulating health, housing, food, and other schemes for migrant workers.