Bill to amend Trade Unions Act introduced in RS

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 28. The Government today introduced in the Rajya Sabha a Bill to amend the Trade Unions Act, 1926, to reduce multiplicity of trade unions, amidst stiff opposition from members of the Left parties.

As the Labour Minister, Mr. Satyanarain Jatiya, sought permission of the House to introduce the Bill, Mr. Jibon Roy of the CPI(M) demanded that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee of Parliament, for an in-depth review. He was supported by Mr. Dipanker Mukherjee.

However, the Congress(I) leader, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, said the Bill had been reviewed earlier by a Parliamentary Committee. And there was no need to defer the bill as the amendments were based on the recommendations of the Ramanujam Committee. If necessary, the Government could have further discussions with trade union leaders after introducing the Bill.

Responding to the Members' concern, the Minister said he was always prepared for discussions with trade union leaders. The amendment Bill envisages that no trade union shall be registered unless it has at least ten per cent or one hundred members, whichever is less. It also seeks to promote internal democracy in trade unions and their orderly growth and regulation.

Based on the recommendations of the Committee a new Bill was drafted and at the introductory stage, it was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Labour and Welfare for preparing a comprehensive industrial relations

law.

Pension for first lady okayed:

PTI reports:

The Lok Sabha today passed a Bill seeking to provide pensionary benefits and accommodation to the spouse of a retired President, in the event of his death. The House approved the President's Emoluments and Pension Amendment Bill, piloted by the Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, without discussion.

A Congress(I) member, Mr. Suresh Pachouri, introduced a private member's Bill in the Rajya Sabha seeking to prevent the Central and State Governments from permitting their employees to join ``fundamentalist and fascist organisations.''

The Prevention of Communalisation and Saffronisation of Bureaucracy Bill, 2000, seeks to confront the NDA over the recent decision of the Gujarat Government to allow its employees to join the RSS.

Another private member's legislation, seeking creation of a board for the overall development of hilly areas was withdrawn from the Lok Sabha today, as the Government said steps should be taken for speedier implementation of all developmental projects in these areas.

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