GANDHINAGAR: The state assembly on Wednesday passed the Labour Laws (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2015 amid protests by Congress MLAs who later staged a walkout from the House. The assembly also passed the Indian Institute of Public Health ( Gandhinagar ) Bill, 2015 which, however, was supported by the Opposition Congress.State labour and employment minister Vijay Rupani has proposed to amend the Industrial Dispute Act empowering the state government to ban strikes for one year (the first time) and subsequently for up to two years.The time limit allowed for workers to raise industrial disputes has also been reduced to one year from three years.In another controversial proposal, the amendment bill proposes to lift restrictions on termination of workers and payment of compensation in case the termination occurs in a Special Investment Region (SIR) and a National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) such as Special Economic Zones (SEZs).Amendments in the Minimum Wages Act has made payment of wages by cheque instead of cash compulsory for establishment employing not less than 20 persons. The state government has also revised penalty rates for violation of various above-mentioned labour laws but allowed a self-certification cum consolidated annual return scheme for employers. This will reduce the number of inspections and interference by authorities.Senior Congress MLA and all-India Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil criticized the proposed amendments in labour laws and alleged that the so-called amendment bill is intended to benefit just the ‘capitalist class’ and take away whatever little security cover workers have. “The provision allowing employers to pay fines but not face penal action for violating labour laws will now allow open exploitation of labour, said Gohil.The Indian Institute of Public Health (Gandhinagar) Bill aims to give university status to the institute which is currently run by the Bill Gates Foundation , and the Gujarat and Central governments.Govt can ban strikes in public utility services for up to three years.Time limit for workers to raise objections to industries’ decisions reduced to one year from the three years allowed earlier.Restrictions on termination of workers and payment of compensation lifted in SIRs and SEZs.Three-fold increase in minimum wage of construction labourers proposed.Payment of wages by cheque instead of cash made compulsory in establishments employing 20 persons or more.Penalty rates for violation of various labour laws revised.No penal action against employer for violating labour laws; he will be required to pay only financial compensationOutsourcing agencies also included in the definition of employers.