Yogi Govt Approves Ordinance Exempting Businesses From Virtually All Labour Laws For 3 Years To Boost Economy

The Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government has approved an ordinance which exempts establishments, factories and businesses from virtually all labour laws except three for the next three years, Business Standard has reported.

The Uttar Pradesh Temporary Exemption from Certain Labour Laws Ordinance, 2020 will now be sent for approval of the centre.

The only laws which the businesses in the state would now have to follow are Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996, Workmen Compensation Act, 1923, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, Section 5 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 and Maternity Benefit Act.

This means that at least 13 laws including the Minimum Wages Act, Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act and Employees’ State Insurance Act will stand suspended for three years.

The state government has said that this move has been undertaken in the light of economic activities being severely affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As per Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary R K Tiwari, the government hopes to protect existing employees while also providing employment to workers who have migrated back to the state.