Page 19 - Handbook on Convergence of Service

Ministry of Labour and Employment: An Overview

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Chapter

Ministry of Labour and Employment:

An Overview

1.1. An Introduction
The Ministry of Labour & Employment is one of the oldest Ministries of the
Government of India. The main responsibility of the Ministry is to protect and
safeguard the interests of workers in general and those who constitute the
poor, deprived and disadvantage sections of the society, in particular, with
due regard to creating a healthy work environment for higher production and
productivity and to develop and coordinate employment services. Government’s
attention is also focused on promotion of welfare and providing social security
to the labour force both in organised and unorganised sectors, in tandem with
the process of liberalisation. These objectives are achieved through enactment
and implementation of various labour laws, which regulate the terms and
conditions of service and employment of workers. The State Governments are
also competent to enact legislations, as labour is a subject in the concurrent list
under the Constitution of India.

1.2. Union/ Concurrent list related to Ministry of Labour and
Employment

• In respect of Railways - Payment of wages, trade disputes, hours of
work for employees not covered by the Factories Act, and regulation of
employment of children.
• In respect of Docks - Regulation of occupational safety, health and
welfare measures concerning dock labour.
• Regulation of occupational safety in mines and oilfields of
workers.
• Welfare of Labour - Industrial, commercial, provident funds, family
pension, gratuity, employer’s liability and workmen’s compensation,
health and sickness insurance, including invalidity pensions, old age
pensions, improvement of working conditions in factories; canteens in
industrial undertakings.
• Labour statistics.
• Employment and unemployment except rural employment and
unemployment.

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