Authors: Ayush Gattani and Vaibhav Kansara*
The shutdown in China due to Covid-19 has caused major supply shock which has prompted global firms to look for new manufacturing centres for hedging risk of the future. It created a golden opportunity for India to make itself a global manufacturing hub which will also fulfil the ‘Make in India’ initiative. In furtherance of this Cabinet of Uttar Pradesh has approved ‘Uttar Pradesh Temporary Exemption from Certain Labour Laws Ordinance, 2020’ to create a favourable environment for global manufacturing companies. If it is signed by Governor of UP and President of India, it will suspend all labour law for three years except Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976; Employee Compensation Act, 1923; Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996 and Section 5 of Payment of Wages Act, 1936 and provisions related to women and children and will make the situation worse for the labour which is currently facing the unprecedented situation due to Covid-19. The paper will discuss the pitfalls of labour reforms so introduced.
Challenging the constitutionality
The aforementioned Labour reform is a bane directly hitting the constitutional regime established in India. As the ordinance will suspend laws in the concurrent list i.e. Entries 22, 23, 24, 55, 61 and 65, the assent of president is mandatory under Article 213(3). Such assent would provide a green flag to the ordinance. However, violation of fundamental rights would bring down its constitutionality.
By suspending Trade Unions Act, 1926 vide ordinance, it will directly violate the fundamental ‘right to form association’ established in All India Bank Employees’ Association v. National Industrial Tribunalby virtue of Article 19(1) (c). Though there are reasonable restrictions can be imposed to maintain public order, the present situation is outside the ambit of such restriction, mainly because restriction for a period of 3 years will deteriorate the situation of labourers and atrocities by employers will escalate.
Moreover, renouncing Factories Act, 1948 would put an end to the right to safe and healthy working environment thereby violating Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Unnecessary suspension would only lead to increased malfeasance rather than serving the purpose of increased productivity and investment.
Violation of Human Rights & ILO Standards
COVID-19 has negatively impacted the labour across the globe. The reforms will also contradict the recent recommendations by International Labour Organisation ensuring the protection of labour in this crisis as the regulations are employer centric rather than labour centric, giving excessive power to employer in hiring and firing employees as a result of suspension of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. Freedom of association and right of collective bargaining has been recognised as basic rights by ILO, which are embedded in the Indian jurisprudence through Trade Unions Act, 1947.
Moreover, the suspension of Factories Act, 1948 will lead to disregarding the health guidelines mandated under Chapter III which are indispensable for protection of workers from the virus. Since, the new guidelines of ILO placed workers’ protection from infection on the top priority, the policy on the same line should have been framed by the government. However, the government drafted ordinance looking into only the economic perspective and reviving the economy by using financial measures, treating labourers as a mere tool to achieve the aforementioned objective without framing any rules regarding protection of labourers from the virus.
The Pandemic makes the workers vulnerable as they are forced to take risky decisions and they could not afford to lose their source of income, leading to a rise of modern slavery. The government added to the plight of such economically disadvantaged workers by coming up with policies of increased working hour with reduced benefits and curtailed labour rights. The tune of affected people worldwide due to such exploitation will be around 40 million people. In addition to it, the pandemic is going to widen the inequalities.
World Economic Forum has raised a concern that political leaders may manipulate human rights to serve confined interest. Also, UNHRC stated that the emergency rule should be strictly temporary along with proper judicial reasoning otherwise the possibility of violating international human rights law will be very high. The 3 year time period of suspension does not seem to be temporary and will in fact have a lasting impact on the Labour community.
According to ILO around 4,00,000 workers die due occupational problems, even in the presence of Factories Act, 1948 because of unsafe and unhealthy working conditions. Most of the workers are protected by the hazards as the employers are bound to follow the aforementioned enactment. However, in its absence, it can be estimated that such number is only going to increase and it is violation of Human right i.e. right to safe and healthy occupational environment. The situation will be aggravated as the demand of labour in UP will be less than supply due to the COVID-19 and migration of labour from other states to UP, this will certainly lead to reduction in the wages and termination of workers more frequently.
Impact on International Trade
WTO is functioning under the standards enacted by ILO for determining minimum labour standards in International trade. It is clear from the aforementioned discussion that there will be violation of fundamental rights of labourers if the ordinance is assented. This violation will have a direct negative impact on the export of goods manufactured by such labour, which directly contradict the object of economic growth of the country. There will also be an indirect impact on trade due to increased awareness of buyer about the conditions under which such goods are produced as they will restrain themselves from purchasing such products.
Conclusion
The decision to relax the labour laws for making a lucrative environment for the potential foreign investors comes at the cost of human rights and constitutional rights of crores of labourers. It might allow the industrialists to have best of their times but the labourers will definitely have to face worst in state of slavery and poor working conditions with meagre wages. Also, it is a mere prediction that new firms will enter Indian economy, if they do not, the whole object of such reforms will collapse with increased cases of labour exploitation. Many states are also coming out with such reforms which, considered wholly, will be detrimental to the labourers/ potential labourers, given the unemployment rate is very high in India. Also, contrary to the belief of government, increased number of working hours would only lead to reduction in productivity. Nevertheless, the government would be required to pay either proportionate or more for the overtime, leading to an overall loss.
Suggestions
As a means to revive the economy, the government should reduce the prices of raw materials and decrease taxes which are the major obstructers, hampering the potential investments in India rather than taking away the basic rights of workers.
Furthermore, flexibility of labour laws does not denote increase in production. However, non-availability of skilled labour is a factor which needs to be analysed and capitalised upon. The government should conduct training programmes to enhance the employability and productivity of worker for their socio-economic integration rather than exploiting them.
Author 1- Mr. Ayush Gattani, 3rd year B.B.A. LL.B. ( Hons.) students at National Law University, Jodhpur.
Author 2- Mr. Vaibhav Kansara, 3rd year B.B.A. LL.B. ( Hons.) students at National Law University, Jodhpur.