Kerala: New Labor Policy Paves the Way for Comprehensive Development

In an attempt to make Kerala employee and investment friendly, the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday gave a nod to the Kerala State Labour Policy.

A minimum wage for all sections of the employees and making the employment sector more women-friendly are among the major recommendations in the new policy.

As per the new policy, the minimum wage is fixed at Rs 600 per day. The decision is expected to lead the state in the direction of a comprehensive development. In addition to that, the policy also enumerates steps to eradicate child labour from the state.

The policy puts focus on the issue of gender neutrality in work environment. In organizations where there are women workers, a ‘crèche cess’ will be collected and crèches will be started in association with the Social Justice Department. The policy envisages a pro-active intervention of the state to ensure proper lodging facilities while travelling, overtime remuneration, weekly leaves, rest intervals etc. for female labourers.

Among other highlights of the policy, the government also plans to establish ‘labour banks’ for ensuring the job security of domestic helps. Moreover, the Labour Department is set to launch a survey to ascertain the actual numbers of unemployed people. 

“As many as 35 lakh people are registered in the exchanges. But all of them are not unemployed. The survey is intended to ensure as to how many are jobless and how many have jobs,” The New Indian Express quoted Labour Minister T P Ramakrishnan as saying. 

With the BJP-led central government trying to curb the voice of the workers by introducing fixed term employment facility behind the smokescreen of ‘ease of doing business’ for all sectors, the policy sanctioned by the Kerala government promises to bring in new legislation which intends to protect the interests of workers.