The labour department of Punjab government, meant for bringing harmony among employers and workers for the sake of overall development of the state, is reeling under the pressure of staff crunch. Besides, poor infrastructure has aggravated the problems of department. Nearly 100 posts, including of officers, inspectors and other staffs, have been lying vacant.
There are many officers who do not have a vehicle, fax machines and are working in dilapidated buildings in different parts of the state.
Commenting on the staff crunch, Punjab labour commissioner Raminder Singh said, ?We have been managing with the 40% of staff, which is severely affecting the works and work quality. There is acute shortage of field officers who goes to various places to keep a check on relationship of workers and employers. However to solve this problem the state government has agreed to fill 43 posts. This proposal is expected to get a green signal of state cabinet shortly. Hopefully we will be able to get more employees within a month?. It may be mentioned here that the state government keeps aside the budget of Rs 1 crore for the department per annum.
Punjab labour department maintains the industrial peace for better industrial relations between workers and employers through investigation and settlement of industrial disputes to promote industrial harmony, so that the production in industry goes on un-interrupted so that there is no loss of man-days and strikes and lockouts can be prevented. Apart from this the department implements various labour laws enacted by Government of India as well as by the state.