Fixed term apparel sector employment for workers in India: Labour Ministry
Q. Fix term employment was introduced in which sector by the Labour Ministry?- Published on 10 Oct 16a. Apparel manufacturing
b. Apparel retail
c. Both of the above
d. Neither of the above
ANSWER: Apparel manufacturing
GoI has introduced fixed term employment in the apparel sector. The Labour Ministry notified the amendments in the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) paving the way for fixed term employment in the apparel manufacturing sector
- Decision would facilitate employment of workers in the apparel manufacturing sector on a fixed term basis against the backdrop of the seasonal character of the sector
- It would also ensure sam working conditions, wages and other benefits for fixed term employees in the sector as a regular employee
- Following the termination of fixed term employment, workers will not be entitled to notice or pay
- This move has been critiqued by many labour unions including BMS which have termed it anti worker
- Fixed term employment in the apparel manufacturing sector was introduced as part of the Industrial Employment(Standing Order) Act vide notification dates Oct 7, 2016
- The working conditions in terms of hours, wages, allowances and statutory dues of the fixed term employee would be at par with a permanent one
- FIxed term workers will also be eligible for statutory benefits available to permanent workers in proportion to the period of service rendered by them though the period of employment does not extend to the qualifying period of the employment required in the statue
- This is one of the measures approved in an INR 6000 crore package for textile sectors announced in June in 2016
- Measures assume significance due to massive potential for social transformation through women empowerment
- Close to 70 percent of the workforce in the garment industry are women
- Therefore, a majority of the new jobs created are more likely to go to women
