Article: Engaging Contract Workforce - New Perspective

Employee Relations

Engaging Contract Workforce - New Perspective

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Seminar on Contract Labour held in New Delhi on Aug 28, 2010 lived upto its theme of 'Engaging Partners' and emphasised on the critical need to have a multi-stakeholder engagement and a need for a collective action from all on the key issue of healthy Industrial Relations
 

Outsourcing is the buzzword which has necessitated the need to change our outlook and adopt newer methods that aid better productivity

 

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Seminar on Contract Labour held in New Delhi on Aug 28, 2010 lived upto its theme of ‘Engaging Partners’ and emphasised on the critical need to have a multi-stakeholder engagement and a need for a collective action from all on the key issue of healthy Industrial Relations.

 While emphasizing the need to have social security benefits for the contract workers, Mr. Arun Maira, Member, Planning Commission also dwelt on flexibility for the industry ensuring a win-win situation for both the Employer and the Employee.  He aired his concern about organized sector not creating enough jobs and the dire need to create 13 –15 million jobs for the next 10 years to address the employment requirements of the growing population and also the current skilled workforce shortfall. He emphasized the need to do things differently, and make new beginnings to address the issues of Contract Labour and other labour issues.

 In his keynote address, Mr. P C Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment highlighted that contract labour is being exploited on wages, social security cover, basic amenities, working conditions, legally allowed services and more. He stresses on the need to provide a “level playing field” and focus on creating a mechanism to build harmonious relationship between employer and worker.  He highlighted the importance of the Employer coming forward to create the conducive environment to facilitate harmonious relationship.

 In his presentation, Mr. Anupam Malik, Joint Labour Commissioner, Haryana emphasized Contract Labour is not a substitute for good management practice.  He further elaborated that good management practices will ensure business growth.  In the changed business scenario “Outsourcing” is the buzzword which has necessitated the need to change our outlook and adopt newer methods that aid better productivity.

 ‘Change in Mindset’ is the requirement for the Industry today as per Mr. K Lakshma Reddy, General Secretary, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh who also highlighted the issues from Labour perspective and raised his concerns on Employers not following the current Labour Laws in an effort to reduce the costs. 

 Mr. Jagdish Khattar, Chairman, CII Industrial Relations Council and Chairman & Managing Director, Carnation Auto India Private Limited, shared that the Industry is keen to address the Contract Labour issues and the real challenge is to create right balance and create win-win situation.  He dwelt on the need to protect the workers interest and not the job.  He felt that we should work towards ensuring more benefits to the worker leading to higher productivity.

Mr. S Y Siddiqui, Managing Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd highlighted that the current scenario in contract labour is a lose-lose situation and there is a conflicting path. He summarized the Employee Relations from 4 different perspectives - Basic Business Needs, Manage Contract Labour, Legal Perspectives and Sustainability and suggested a proactive, fair and transparent approach by the industry.

 The high point of this seminar was the participation and engagement of all major stakeholders related to Contract Labour. The Seminar saw the release of a report on  “Business Labour Partnership” by Mr. P C Chaturvedi. The report highlights the changing business environment and the need to change accordingly. It also highlights the need to do a critical analysis of labour laws.  

 The other speakers were unanimous in their views on the need to ensure better wages and social security to the workers and also flexibility to the Industry to match the demand and supply as per their needs.  The panelists also gave suggestions to take the uncharted path and emphasized the need for a newer approach including acceptability of outsourcing.

 The Seminar also saw inputs from various speakers including Mr D L Sharma, Managing Director, Vardhman Yarns & Threads Ltd., Mr. Michael Dias, Secretary, The Employers’ Association, Mr. Aditya Mishra, Chief Marketing Officer, Ma Foi Randstad, Mr. Anil Gaur, General Manager – HR, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Mr. Rajiv Kapoor, Vice President HR-IR, JCB Ltd. and Mr. Soumen Basu, Executive Advisor, Manpower Inc., India.

 The final session showcased the Best Practices in successfully engaging with Contract Labour from Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and JCB Ltd.

 

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Topics: Employee Relations, #IndustrialRelations

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