MASSIVE LABOUR LAW REFORMS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN UTTAR PRADESH

 Uttar Pradesh has carried out major Labor reforms in recent days. Where the Uttar Pradesh Government has cleared an Ordinance that suspends most of the labour laws for a period of three years except for three Labor Acts which is Bonded Labor Act, 1976; Employee Compensation Act, 1923; Building and Construction Workers Act, 1996 and Section 5 of Payment of Wages Act, 1936 which ensures timely payment of daily wages. The Ordinance covers all the existing industries and manufacturing units as well as the new ones that are coming up in a few years. Reasons for taking such a huge step is to encourage advanced investment, to set up the modern industrial infrastructure and to benefit the current industries and factories. And for that to happen, the new steps have been taken during the unfortunate Covid-19 pandemic, where the Government has taken this crucial decision for labours as it is going to be beneficial for them shortly.

Since the pandemic has started, a lot of labours are migrating to their home states, where the majority is moving to Uttar Pradesh. And the Uttar Pradesh Government has forecasted that this change in labour laws is expected to provide employment opportunities for the workers, who have migrated back to the state, but this Ordinance will not affect the existing labour employees in any manner instead it will provide a more adaptable environment for the businesses and industries. But some expert opinions about the labour law Ordinance dictates that the dilution of workers right will pave the way for the misuse of existing workers in an organization which is already stressed due to Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, there are a few arguments regarding the drastic steps taken by the UP Government on the labour law which will help to re-skill the workers who have been displaced and re-employee them as per the needs of the industry. This reform will also protect the existing workers as some of the labour laws have been kept intact so the existing labourer won’t be taken advantage of.

To protect the livelihood of the workers and to bring in new industries in the state, the temporary exemption of labour laws introduced by the UP Government will be fruitful in the upcoming future.