Why in news?

• Without giving any reason, the 47th Indian Labour Conference (ILC) scheduled was indefinitely postponed by the government.

What is the significance of ILC?

• The first ILC was held in 1942 and was envisaged to bring workers’ and employers’ representatives together to help in the World War II allied efforts.
• It is the highest and most important tripartite body consisting of representatives of unions, employers and state and central governments. It is routinely inaugurated by the incumbent Prime Minister.
• The ILC platform is used by both trade unionists and employer representatives to draw the government’s attention to issues of relevance.
• What are the challenges faced by labors?
• The fixed term employment move will allow all sectors to hire workers for specific projects on contract.
• This could lead to vast sections of workers becoming contract employees.
• Several state governments have made amendments to labour laws that have invariably led to job security being compromised.
• In addition, the Code on Wages Bill, 2017 was introduced in the Lok Sabha, in which the state governments have been permitted to arrive at a minimum wage separately
• There are also other long pending issues regarding the ending of contractual employment in work of a perennial nature and divestment of public sector companies.

What will be the impact?

• The agenda that was drawn up for the postponed ILC also covered critical issues of employment generation, labour law amendments (termed labour law reforms by the government) and universal social security cover for all workers.
• The government is refusing to address these issues by indefinitely postponing the Indian Labour Conference.
• The cancellation of the conference is especially significant given that it was being held after a gap of two years