In its efforts to table the Industrial Disputes Act Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha next week, the government has intensified the dialogue with the Left leaders to reach a consensus with them on the issue.
Union labour minister Oscar Fernandes expressed satisfaction over the talks and hoped that they would be able to reach at an agreement. However, the Left leaders maintained that they will oppose the Bill and seek amendments once it is tabled.
?Talks are going on. We are hopeful of tabling the legislation this session,? Fernandes told FE. ?The Left?s major opposition is on the minimum number of employees. We are trying for a consensus,? he added.
The bill, a major step in the government?s labour market reform initiatives, could not be tabled on Wednesday, following the Left party?s protests.
Sources in the Left said as the subject is dealt with their trade unions, there will be only a remote chance in budging on the issue.
The Pension Bill is yet to see the daylight because of opposition from the trade union lobby within the Left. They also added that they will move to amendments to maintain status quo in the number of workers.