It seems that Govt has finally found out the recipe for boosting India’s GDP, and to make India self-reliant by becoming an economic superpower.
And the solution is increasing the daily work hours of all workers, employees in India.
How will it work out? Are 12 hours enough to work in a day?
New Labor Laws: 12 Hour Work Day In India
Recently, Centre has suggested new labor laws and new working hours protocols, in the newly drafted Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules (OSH&WC), 2020.
As per the suggestions highlighted, Govt wants all workers and employees to work 12 hours a day, up from 9 hours a day which is the rule as of now.
This is a straight 33.33% increase in the working hours of any worker in India.
At the same time, Govt wants that no worker should be asked to work more than 48 hours in a week, which is the current norm.
Labour Ministry, in their new draft rule for Labor Laws, stated, “No worker shall be required or allowed to work in an establishment for more than forty eight hours in any week. The period of work of a worker shall be so arranged that inclusive of his intervals for rest, shall not spread over for more than twelve hours in a day,”
In case the working hours exceed 48 hours a week, then a provision of mandatory overtime has also been mentioned.
Interestingly, some states like Maharashtra and Gujarat have already allowed employers to demand 12 hours work day from workers, and this has stirred a hornet’s nest.
In fact, the Supreme Court had to recently intervene, and stop employers from forcing 12 hours work day for workers.
In the judgement to stop 12 hour work day, the Supreme Court said, “Burden cannot be put on workers during the (coronavirus) pandemic. It is not the appropriate response. Right to employment and fair wage are part of Right to Life,”
However, in case the draft rules proposed by the Labour Ministry becomes a rule, then 12 hours work day will become the norm, all across India.
Exciting indeed!
Quarantine Leave Mandatory?
One of the positive suggestions is the mandatory, and paid quarantine leave for all employees,in case they are affected by coronavirus, or any other infection.
This means that in case any employee is required to be quarantine, then the existing leaves should be used, to ensure that the employee gets full salary.
The suggestions by the Govt had this paragraph: “Quarantine leave on full wage shall be granted by the newspaper establishment on the certificate of the authorized medical practitioner designated as such under Section 42, for a period not exceeding 21 days or, in exceptional circumstances, 30 days. Any leave necessary for quarantine purposes in excess of that period shall be adjusted against any other leave that may be due to the working journalist or sales promotion employee.”
Govt will consider inputs and opinions on these draft rules for the next 45 days, and then will take the decision to make the laws permanent.
We will keep you updated, as more details come in.
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