Congress President Kharge Hints At Rajasthan-Style Rollback Of Karnataka BJP Govt’s Labour Law Reforms Including 12 Hour Work Day

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday (1 May) hinted at a Rajasthan-style rollback of the recently adopted labour reforms by the CM B S Bommai led BJP government in Karnataka.

Speaking to the reporters, Kharge accused both the BJP governments at the Centre and Karnataka of following "anti-labour" law by passing the legislation amending the Factories Act, 1948.

The amendment allows for extending the working day for up to 12 hours a day.

In the name of ease of doing business, the Karnataka government has conceded the demands of multi-national companies by extending work hours, Kharge said.

This “is like setting the clock back”, Kharge was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

He also slammed the move allowing night shifts for women workers in factories.

Kharge, who is the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, also attacked the Centre for passing the four labour codes, saying that these codes "weaken protections for workers", and termed them "anti-worker" as they grant government "enormous flexibility" to waive workplace safety requirements, social security, and protection from layoffs.

The Congress government in Rajasthan too initiated steps for reforming labour laws but withdrew later following the party’s directives, he said, reports The Hindu.

The Karnataka government had recently passed an amendment to its application of the factories act, allowing for 12-hour shifts, and the easing of rules for night-time work for women.

The legislation increases the number of allowable overtime hours to 145 over a three-month period, up from 75, and caps maximum working hours at 48 per week.

The maximum length of shifts was increased from nine to 12 hours.

The labour reforms are viewed by the government as essential to its strategy to propel itself as a manufacturing hub.

The slew of investments the state is attracting in the manufacturing sector is credited to a set of amendments in the Factories Act recently introduced and passed by the CM Bommai-led BJP government.

Taking leaf out of Karnataka, neighbouring Tamil Nadu also attempted to make similar amendments to Factories Act

However facing strident opposition, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced yesterday that his government would withdraw the Bill that amended the Factories Act to allow 12 hours work.