The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-affiliated trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and Shiv Sena’s Bharatiya Kamgar Sena (BKS) are up in arms against the Maharashtra Cabinet’s decision to amend the factories Act, 1948. Terming the move “anti-labour”, the unions also slammed the state government for bypassing the consultation process before giving a Cabinet approval.

At present, smaller industries might be excluded from the provisions of the Act, which mandates safety guidelines and working conditions, applies to units with more than 10 workers in premises with power supply and 20 workers in premises without power. However, with the proposed amendment, the limit has been increased from 20 and 40 workers. The government has claimed that the amendments will free up 14,300 units from the purview of the Act. Besides, changes were also proposed to allow women to work in night shifts in offices.

However, BKS President Suryakant Jagtap told Business Standard: “BKS is committed to protect the interests of workers and opposed to the manner in which the state Cabinet has cleared amendments to the Act. The Cabinet cleared it when the state labour commissioner is in the process of seeking suggestions and objections in this regard.”BKS will organise a meeting of all trade unions to discuss labour reforms proposed by the NDA government at the Centre. “BKS will oppose the amendments in the Act,”Mahadik said.

BMS’s state General Secretary Anil Dhumne criticised the state government for skipping the tripartite agreement on amendments to the Act. “BMS has been opposing such changes during the UPA rule and it will do so in the NDA regime, as safety of workers is a key issue. Why the government is bent on these amendments when trade unions have raised certain valid objections.

BMS has reservations about allowing women to do night shifts. This is due to the larger issue of security,” he said.

Dhumne clarifed that BMS was not against labour reforms but argued that it should be done by taking unions on board. He went on to add that BMS will further step up its agitation against the government's decision.