Karnataka amends factories act to extend working hours to 10 per day till August 2020

In a significant change to the state's labour laws, Karnataka government on Friday, exempted all factories for a period of three months from provisions of weekly stipulated hours and daily hours. The order extended the maximum working hours from eight to ten hours per day and sixty hours per week. Moreover, the government clarified that overtime wages will remain unchanged.

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Karnataka tweaks working hours

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Karnataka eyes Chinese investment

Karnataka, which has significantly lifted restrictions in lockdown phase 4, has set up a task force to formulate ways to attract foreign investors who are/have withdrawing from China. The state had allowed all industrial activities to resume across the state in all areas except containment zones from May 4. While the government has announced Rs. 1,610 crore relief package for farmers, MSMEs, handloom weavers, flower growers, washermen, barbers, auto, and taxi drivers, the state has also barred the entry of people from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu till May 31 due to their soaring COVID-19 cases.

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Uttar Pradesh amends labour laws

Uttar Pradesh, under CM Yogi Adityanath, was the first to pass an ordinance suspending all labour laws for three years except -Building and Other Construction Workers' Act, 1996, Workmen Compensation Act, 1923, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, Part of Payment of Wages Act. Gujarat too has abolished all labour laws for three years except -Minimum Wages Act, Industrial Safety Rules, Employees' Compensation Act. Meanwhile, Shivraj Chouhan's Madhya Pradesh government has abolished certain labour laws.

Several Indian business experts have welcomed the loosening of regulations stating that this move will provide flexibility and urge other states to bring in labour reforms. On the other hand, worker unions have expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that their role will be diminished and want the Centre to intervene. These laws have been sent to the Centre for approval before it comes into force into the respective states.

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Centre's proposed labour codes

On May 14, while announcing the Centre's Rs 20 lakh crore economic package, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, stated that the government will be reforming labour laws in the near future. The current 44 labour laws will be reduced to just 4 labour codes. The bill is currently in the parliamentary standing committee and will soon be introduced in parliament.