Labour Deptt initiates action
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 22: In a major initiative aimed at keeping check on the Unions/Associations, the Labour Commissioner of the UT has issued notices to 335 such bodies for not filing mandatory annual returns under the Trade Unions Act, 1926.
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Labour Commissioner Charandeep Singh told the Excelsior that prior to this, 400 Unions/Associations were issued similar notices after which most of them started filing returns.
“Now, the left out Unions/Associations numbering 335, have been issued notices,’’ he said, adding some of these bodies have filed annual returns for a year and then stayed silent for couple of years.
Some of other bodies have not been filing the returns at all.
Some of the Unions are even non-existent and their names are being used by the office bearers only to issue statements.
Spelling out reasons for filing mandatory annual returns, sources said they have been charging monthly or annually the subscription fee from their members.
“Under Section 28 of the Trade Unions Act, 1926, every registered trade union is required to file its Annual Returns for the year ending 31st December by 31st July of the following year. However, despite repeated reminders and earlier notices issued by the department, a considerable number of unions continued to remain non-compliant,’’ an official order issued by the Labour Commissioner of the UT, said.
Referring to the earlier notices that had clearly called upon the unions to fulfill this mandatory statutory requirement, the Labour Commissioner has now issued a final compliance directive. Unions that still fail to file their pending returns within the stipulated 10-day period will be considered defaulters with no further opportunity for explanation, making them liable for strict action, including the cancellation of their registration.
Charandeep Singh, Labour Commissioner and Registrar Trade Unions, has emphasized that submission of Annual Returns is not only a legal obligation but also essential for ensuring accountability, transparency, and proper functioning of trade unions across the Union Territory.
The Labour Commissioner J&K directed all Deputy Labour Commissioners and Assistant Labour Commissioners to ensure compliance at once and verify that all returns are submitted in Form ‘D’ within the prescribed period.
The Labour Department reiterated that maintaining proper records, adhering to statutory reporting requirements, and complying with by-laws are fundamental duties of every registered trade union. All defaulting unions have been urged to treat this final notice with utmost seriousness and complete their pending submissions without delay to avoid statutory consequences.
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