Appoint Labour Court's Presiding Officer: AMTUC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 02 2024:
Manipur State has not had a Presiding Officer of the Labour Court in 50 years, said All Manipur Trade Unions Council.
Section 7 of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 provides provision for appointment of Presiding Officer of Labour Court for the adjudication of industrial disputes.
Without a Presiding Officer, and a functioning Labour Court, labourers are skeptical that their rights and benefits will be protected.
The existence of the Labour Department has little meaning if there is no Presiding Officer who would settle disputes and uphold the rights of the labourers.
The trade council said there was a Presiding Officer when Manipur was a Union Territory but, after the officer retired, no new Presiding Officer was appointed.
It added that labourers who were laid off during COVID-19 pandemic, and those who have not been paid their wages and retrenchment compensation are unable to submit applications to the Labour Court for redressal of their issues due to absence of a Presiding Officer.
Considering the grievances, the Government must appoint a Presiding Officer to the Labour Court at the earliest, said the trade council.
On the other hand, the trade council claims it has not yet received the minutes of a meeting hosted by the Skill, Labour, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department on February 20 .
When its members approached the Deputy Labour Commissioner's office they were told to get the details from the office of the Under Secretary.
However, when they approached the office of the Under Secretary, they were again told to get the details from the Deputy Labour Commissioner, said the trade council.
It urged the Under Secretary of Skill, Labour, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department to release the minutes of the meeting to the council at the earliest.