Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) Maharashtra Labour Minister Akash Phundkar on Tuesday directed four independent expert committees of the labour department to hold detailed discussions with the Joint Action Committee of Labour Unions regarding the draft rules framed by the state government.

The state government has drafted the ‘Maharashtra Code on Wages Rules’, ‘Maharashtra Industrial Relations Code Rules’, ‘Maharashtra Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules’, and ‘Maharashtra Social Security Code Rules’ in alignment with the Central government’s four new Labour Codes.

The minister emphasised that a comprehensive, joint report should only be sent to the Union Ministry of Labour after thoroughly understanding the opinions and suggestions of the labour organisations.

He chaired a meeting which was attended by key office bearers and representatives from major labour movements and unions, including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AICCTU, NTUI, and BKS.

Speaking at the meeting, Phundkar stated that safeguarding the interests of the state’s labourers and employees is the government’s topmost priority before implementing the new labour codes. He said the government has already published the draft rules and invited objections and suggestions.

To ensure transparency and inclusiveness in this process, four independent expert committees have been established, and these committees must coordinate closely with the Joint Action Committee of Labour Unions for in-depth deliberations.

To ensure that these discussions are meaningful and not merely a formality, the labour minister instructed the labour department to immediately release an official schedule for the consultative meetings.

He assured the union representatives that all reasonable demands, suggestions, and objections raised by them would be officially recorded. He added that the state government will ensure that workers’ rights and social security remain completely uncompromised.

Once the extensive consultation process between the expert committees and labour unions is concluded, a comprehensive, all-inclusive joint report incorporating all findings and recommendations will be compiled. This final report will then be submitted to the Union Ministry of Labour for further approval and subsequent action, the minister said.

–IANS

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