Govt drafting Bill for stronger Labour protection

YUKSOM BREWERIES CUTS OFF DEPENDENCE ON LABOUR CONTRACTORS
GANGTOK: Very soon, Sikkim will have its own Labour Protection Act, the drafting of which has already begun, informs BM Ramudamu, vice-president of All Sikkim Democratic Labour Front.
Speaking to NOW!, Mr. Ramudamu said, “The Act will be called Sikkim Labour Protection Act, 2011 and will be implemented along with the Sikkim Labour Protection Act  2005 [Amendment].”
Explaining the reasons behind introducing the new Act, he said, “The existing Act was an amendment version of the Central Labour Act and some of the clauses which favour Sikkim’s labourers are missing in the Act.”
According to him, the new Act will be drafted keeping in mind the protection of the old laws of Sikkim and also cover labour related issues like bonus and other welfare schemes, which are missing in the old laws.
When asked about the completion period of drafting of the new law, the ASDLF vice-president said, “It comes under the 100 days task project announced by the Chief Minister around a week back.”

Meanwhile, Yuksom Breweries Ltd., of Melli in South Sikkim has become the first establishment to accept the directions of ASDLF and ending its association with labour contractors.
A letter signed by YBL factory manager dated 9th April, 2011 bearing Ref. No. YB/36/BREW/04-2011/34 addressed to the ASDLF vice-president read, “…we are to inform you that we have started direct dealing of the workers who were supplied, previously, by the labour contractor, with effect from 01.04.2011.”
On this, Mr. Ramudamu expressed his happiness and claimed that this was a major achievement of his organization coming out from the two-day state wide bandh called on 04 and 05 April.
He further informed that other industrial units are also responding positively in this regard.