- Congress party raises objection
Bhopal: In a significant move with far-reaching implications for the state’s workforce, the Madhya Pradesh Assembly has passed the Labor Law Amendment Bill, a legislative change poised to reshape working conditions and compensation for millions. The bill, which promises enhanced overtime pay for workers, was met with strong resistance from the opposition Congress party, which labeled it “anti-labor” and a boon for industrialists.
The new legislation, championed by Labor Minister Prahlad Patel, is a landmark change for workers. Previously, laborers were capped at a maximum of 125 hours of overtime. This has now been increased to 144 hours. A key provision ensures that this extended overtime is strictly conditional on the worker’s consent. In a major victory for workers, the bill mandates that employees who work overtime will now receive double their regular wage for those extra hours, a substantial increase from the previous rate.
= Opposition alleges “Pro-Industrialist” agenda
The passage of the bill was far from smooth, as the Congress party launched a scathing critique. Congress MLA Sohan Valmiki led the charge, arguing that the bill is a thinly veiled attempt to favor industrialists at the expense of workers. He contended that the new laws would make it nearly impossible for laborers to form unions and stage protests, alleging that a requirement to give six weeks’ notice for any such action would effectively stifle dissent. Valmiki also pointed out that overtime would now be calculated on a weekly basis, a change he claimed was detrimental to workers’ interests.
= Metropolitan City Bill also under scrutiny
The legislative session also saw intense debate over the Metropolitan City Bill, which the Congress party has also targeted with sharp criticism. MLA Jaivardhan Singh demanded that representatives from the areas designated as metropolitan cities be included in the oversight committee. He argued that the current committee, with only four members, is not representative enough and should be expanded.
Singh also took a jab at the ruling government, quipping, “A government that hasn’t delivered a master plan in 20 years is now talking about creating metropolitan cities.”
Leader of the Opposition, Umang Singhar, also weighed in on the metropolitan bill, raising serious concerns about land acquisition. He highlighted a discrepancy between the market value and the collector’s rate for land, questioning whether common citizens and farmers would be compensated at the higher market value. Singhar affirmed that the opposition would continue to vociferously challenge any legislation they deem unjust, ensuring that the voice of the people is heard within the assembly.
