Page 715 - ES 2020-21_Volume-1-2 [28-01-21]

342 Economic Survey 2020-21 Volume 2

Box 5: Chronology of Labour Reforms post 1991

S. Name of Commis- Year Chairman/ Recommendations
No. sion/ Committee / Organization
Report
1 National Commission 1991 Prof. C. H. Made recommendations for specific
on Rural Labour Hanumantha categories of workers, definition of migrant
Rao workers to cover all migrants, recommended
a minnimum wage of ` 20 per day at 1990
prices.
2 Simplification, Ration- 1994 National Recommended the Indian Labour Code
alization and Consoli- Labour Law 1994.This Code was extensively quoted by
dation of Labour laws Association the Second National Commission on Labour.
3 Ninth Five Year Plan 1997- Planning Existing labour laws cover a small segment
Vol-2, Human & Social 2002 Commission of workforce.Ninth Plan aims at reducing
Development the number of laws, with the objective that
a smaller number of laws reach the entire
workforce.
4 Mitra Committee 1997 Shri Mitra Major recommendations in IR Act,
definition of workman should have no nexus
with wages drawn by workman, and should
be made uniform in all labour legislations.
5 Commision on Re- 1998 Shri P. C. Jain, Endorsed recommendations of Mitra
view of Adminstrative Retd. Secy to Committee. IR Act be renamed as
Laws, Vol-I & II Govt. of India Employment Relations Act inorder to shift
the focus from disputes to measures for
harmonious relations. Amend Contract
Labour Act to enable engagement of
contract labour in all peripheral and seasonal
activities.
6 Report of the Task 2001 Dr. Montek. To increase share of organized sector in total
Force on Employment S. Ahluwalia employment problem of labour laws need
Opportunities to be addressed. Deletion of Chapter VB of
Industrial Disputes Act. Introduce short term
employment contracts where workers can be
hired on contract basis by paying premium
wage. Introduce “strike ballot” -a strike can
be called only if supported by a qualifying
majority of workers. Timelimit for three years
for filing industrial disputes. Amendment of
Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition)
(R&A) Act, to allow outsourcing of
peripheral activities from specialized firms.