FIRST NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LABOUR
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS
The
first National Commission on Labour was set up on 24th December
1966 under the Chairmanship of Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar. The Commission
submitted its report in August , 1969 after detailed examination of all
aspects of labour problems, both in the organised and unorganised sectors.
The recommendations covered issues like recruitment agencies and practices,
employment service administration, training and workers education, working
conditions, labour welfare, housing, social security, wages and earnings,
wage policy, bonus, workers/employers organisations, industrial relations
machinery etc.
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS
Important recommendations of the Labour Commission
have been implemented through amendments to certain labour laws like the
Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 ( for removal of wage ceiling for coverage),
the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 ( mainly in respect of the unfair labour
practices). The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 enhancement in the
wage limit for exemption from payment of Employees’ Contribution), Factories
Act, 1948 ( for making penalties more stringent for violation of safety
requirements and provision of Welfare facilities), and the Employees Provident
Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (enhancement in the rate of
contribution and making default of dues a cognizable offence). Certain
new laws have also been enacted like the Contract Labour (Regulation and
Abolition) Act, 1970, Limestone and Dolomite Mines Labour Welfare Fund
Act, 1972, Iron Ore, Manganese Ore and Chrome Ore Mines Labour Welfare
Fund Act, 1976. Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 and Child Labour ( Prohibition
& Regulation ) Act, 1986. In the areas of wage policy and minimum wages,
employment services, vocational training, labour statistics and research
and workers’ education also, the recommendations made by the Commission
have been largely taken into account in modifying the policies, procedures
and programmes of the Government. The National Labour Institute was set
up in 1972 in pursuance of the recommendations of the Commission.
