NEW DELHI, Aug 7: The government today introduced the Factories (Amendment) Bill amidst strong opposition by the Congress and other parties, saying it was being introduced without being circulated two
days in advance.
The Act originally enacted in 1948, aims at ensuring adequate safety measures and promoting health and welfare of workers. Changes
in the Law, which has been amended several times in the past too, have been needed in view of several developments over the past 20 years like changes in manufacturing practices, emergence of new technologies, ratification of ILO conventions and judicial decisions.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the Bill, which dealt with such an important subject, was being introduced suddenly because of which they had no time to read its provisions. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she had the power under Rule 19B to allow a Minister to introduce the Bill without its circulation two days in advance, and she used the power as the Minister had urged her to relax the norm in this case.
Mr Kharge said he did not challenge her ruling, but his objection was that the amendment in the Factories Act was a very important issue affecting lakhs of workers in the country so the members should be given enough time to study it without which they would not be able to discuss it.
All the Congress members and those of the ally parties rose up in their seats protesting against the introduction. However, Ms Mahajan sought to assure them that the Bill was only being introduced and discussion on it would take place later. While the protests continued, she asked Minister of State for Labour Vishnu Deo Sai to introduce the Bill. (UNI)
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