Labour policy framework on a downward spiral in a globalised economy : An Indian Experience, as it Unfolds

Abstract

The British enacted labour laws to contain the unrest and thwart worker mobilisation that could disrupt their ambitious trade plans in the occupied country. While independence for India was inevitable the crown began to implement reasonable laws such as Factories Act, Worker Compensation Act etc. Post-Independence, India enacted laws from a socialistic perspective and the courts laid emphasis on delivery of social justice. With the opening up of markets in 1991 and with the advent of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation of enterprise the labour laws and its interpretation went through subtle changes to support trade and commerce. Successive governments in India paid less focus on labour reforms and hence bulk of the laws are out dated, irrelevant or rendered ineffective. With the sudden impact of Covid-19, business impact, work stoppage and reverse migration of labour put all major labour laws on the back burner by the government in order to kick start the economy. Labour in India suffers owing to poor implementation of laws, reforms, low wages and poor working conditions and we are going back to an era of labour neglect. This research effort intends to highlight the evolution of labour laws in India and its current state in a developing economy.

Keywords: Labour Reforms, Socialistic, Globalisation, Social Security, Welfare, Safety, Collective Bargaining, Industrial Adjudication