Labour Legislation

Labour
legislation
Labour legislation is a set of laws that regulate the rights and
responsibilities of employers and employees. The laws cover topics
such as: Working hours, Wages, Working conditions, Trade unions,
Industrial disputes.
The goal of labour legislation is to ensure that workers receive fair
wages, work in safe conditions, and are not exploited or mistreated.
What is labour legislation ?
‘Labour legislation’ is a body of law formed for the working class of
people to provide them with legal rights, and also restrict them with
rules and regulations. It defines the rights and obligations of the
working class. Labour law covers several areas-
Certification of Labour Unions –
The Labour Union is issued with a formal document which ensures

them the right to represent on behalf of all the labourers. This Union
acts as an exclusive bargaining agent.
Collective Bargaining –
The workers through their unions put demands before their

employers, like the terms of their employment, payment, leave,
health and safety policies and the number of working hours.
Labour-Management Relations –
The head of any working organisation has to resolve conflict among

his labourers because any misunderstanding between his employees
will create a downfall in his work progress.
Workplace health and safety –
It ensures that the employees are getting a safe environment to work

in and are not physically or mentally abused by the work culture
because in the end a better environment will only make them work
with all their might.
Employment standards –
It includes annual holidays, working hours, unfair means of

dismissal of labourers, and compensation provided to the labourers
who got terminated or have left the job.
Factors specific to India
Early labour legislation came into being because of the pressure
from the manufacturers of Lancashire and Birmingham, because the
labour employed in factories and mills in India were paid very less
in comparison to their British counterparts.
The workers got immense support from the freedom fighters and
nationalist leaders who made tireless efforts to get protective labour
legislation enacted. Many laws were formed because of the pressure
from the freedom struggle.
The leaders of the National Movement promised to enact better
labour laws and provide equal justice to everyone after
independence, which was even included in the Preamble,
Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy of the
Indian Constitution. The leaders made sure that the workers will no
longer be treated as a commodity.
Elements of Labour Law
In our country, general legislation considers individuals as citizens
but labour legislation considers them as workers. For a very long
time, the labourers have faced unjust situations. In order to safeguard
their interests and demand labour legislation is entirely bent towards
them, it doesn’t think of general justice it thinks of social justice. It
is completely designed for the labourers.
Labour legislation is focused on the problems that arise in the work
environment of the workmen which include the number of hours of
working, wages provided, industrial disputes, and working
conditions of the people. Labour legislation is mainly targeted
toward workers and employers; others are least affected by labour
legislation.
For example- laws based on wages, compensation for injury or
women’s employment affect an individual as a worker whereas laws
based on marriages, property, and sales tax affect an individual as a
citizen. Different roles of people lead to the formation of different
laws, it is ‘role-relation’ that determines whether particular
legislation falls under labour legislation, social legislation or general
legislation.
Labour legislation aims at equality, and security of the labourers.
They work in creating a better living environment for them, and also
in promoting the work culture so that profit is earned in abundance
which would be beneficial for them also.
Unlike other general legislation, labour legislations need frequent
revisions and improvements, otherwise, they would hold no
importance and would become outdated. Absence of frequent
revisions would create a gap with current industrial requirements.

Labour Legislation

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Labour Legislation

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Labour

The Labour Union is issued with a formal document which ensures

The workers through their unions put demands before their

The head of any working organisation has to resolve conflict among

It ensures that the employees are getting a safe environment to work

It includes annual holidays, working hours, unfair means of

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