𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀: 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱

 

INTRODUCTION 

Labour law, also known as employment law, is the set of regulations laid to establish a legal relationship between the employees and their employer.

It governs workers, trade unions, and the government. It aims to ensure that workers are not getting exploited by their employers and are paid for the work they do.

The Global Outlook 

While these labour laws may vary from country to country. The international labour organization (ILO) has set some standards to promote decent work conditions globally.

You might be wondering, what is the importance of labour laws?

In the past, slavery prevailed, making workers' conditions pitiful. They were exploited, tortured, and forced to work for free.

In order to end this, labour laws were introduced with the following objectives.

• Protecting workers from exploitation

• Promoting social justice and equality

• Improving labour market efficiency

• Encouraging industrial peace

• Balancing the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees

CHALLENGES

Despite being a noble concept, labour laws have faced a plethora of challenges.

Lack of Resources and Expertise

• Many companies struggle with:

• Insufficient staff dedicated to compliance management

• Limited expertise in labour law compliance

• Difficulty keeping up with constantly changing regulations

Awareness and Understanding

• There's a widespread lack of familiarity with labour laws among both employers and employees, including:

• Limited understanding of industry-specific compliance requirements

• Insufficient awareness of the consequences of non-compliance

• Challenges in disseminating information about new labour codes

Implementation and Enforcement

• Ensuring compliance with labour laws presents several hurdles:

• Difficulty in enforcing regulations, especially in a country as diverse as India

• Challenges in implementing new labour codes across various sectors

• Resistance to change, particularly in the informal sector.

The situation is uncertain! What does the future of labour law hold?

The future labour law is rapidly changing and evolving. It takes into account new trends, technological advancements, and changing employee expectations. The "right to disconnect" has gained global attention as the line between work and personal life blurs in the digital age. France introduced the concept in 2017, allowing employees to withdraw from non-work interactions during normal working hours. Other countries, notably Belgium, Ireland, and Portugal, have passed similar legislation.

Rights that all employees should be aware of.

Right to social security

An employee of a company is entitled to various social security benefits which include:

• Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for retirement provision

• Employees State Insurance (ESI) for health insurance

Right to fair remuneration

An employee of a company has the right to fair remuneration for his/her work which includes:

• Equal pay for equal work irrespective of gender or other characteristics

• Overtime pay, where applicable

• Wages are paid on time, normally by the last working day of each month.

Right to retirement pay

Right to retirement pay is an important employee benefit in India and is provided for by the Payment of Retirement Pension Act, 1972.

Protection from Discrimination

A worker has the right to protection from discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste, sex, race or place of birth. This is guaranteed under Article 16(2) of the Constitution of India4. Additional protection is provided to:

• Transgender people

• Persons with disabilities

• Persons living with HIV

CONCLUSION 

As the world continues to evolve, so do labour laws. Looking ahead, labour laws continue to evolve with a focus on:

• Adapting to technological advancements

• Addressing the needs of gig economy workers

• Balancing flexibility 

And, for employees, awareness of their rights- from fair compensation to social security to protection from discrimination is crucial. This information helps employees to advocate for inclusive working environment. The ongoing debate between the government, employees, employers, and unions is shaping the future, and this information will contribute to a harmonious workforce.

STAY SMART! STAY SATARK!

Blog by:- Suyash Chandna