HC orders status quo on GO shifting labour welfare boards

Chennai, Mar 26: The Madras High Court today ordered status quo on a Government Order (GO) shifting the unorganised Labour Welfare Boards from the Labour to the Revenue Department.
Tamil Nadu Construction and Unorganised Labourers Union represented by its General Secretary K Annadurai and Kattumana Thozhilalargal Katchi represented by its Founder-President R Rajagopal filed a petition in the High Court praying for quashing the GO and declaring the move as contrary to the law.
In the petition, they said a GO was issued by the Department of Labour shifting 14 Unorganised Labour Welfare Boards functioning under it to the Revenue Department effective from April 1.
The powers to register employees and process their representations had been shifted which was contrary to the law, the petitioners said.
They also submitted if the powers of the Labour Department are shifted to Revenue Department, the unorganised labourers would be affected.
They will harassed while receiving their entitlement and other benefits by moving back and forth from one department to other the petitioners.
Also, representatives of the Labour sector were not consulted before the decision was taken nor were members of the Welfare oard taken into confidence.
Heavy work burden was cited as the reason for the move. This was contrary to facts, the petitioners said and sought quashing of the GO.
Justice A Kulasekaran admitted the petition and ordered the government to maintain status quo. He also directed the government to respond within four weeks. - Bureau Report
Chennaionline.com; Published: Thursday, March 27, 2008