Industrial Relations & Labour Laws
1. Anil is a rural worker, working in an establishment which carries manufacturing of plastic sacks used for packing cement. This establishment is owned by a registered to manufacturing process. The number of workers work in two shifts, with each shift lasting for around 7 hours. The total number of workers employed by the establishment is 154. Anil and the other workers have issues with their health as the unit is not kept clean. They have to face problems with regard to drinking water also. Sunil, another employee, suffered an accident because the unit was not well lit. The owners do not take the complaints seriously stating that none of the labour laws apply to the manufacturing unit. Advise Anil.
2. Amit was working in a factory. He was employed in lifting the goods with a crane. Abhay another employee was given the job of stacking the goods together, before they could be lifted by the crane. Abhay had to go home early, but the owner refused to leave him until he completed his task. In a hurry to complete the job Abhay overburdened the goods. When Amit, lifted the goods with the crane, the goods toppled and fell an Arvind, an employee, who was standing below. This accident resulted in the death of Arvind.
After a few days, the dependents of Arvind came to the employer and claimed for compensation. The employer refused stating that it was not his fault that led to the accident and it was the carelessness and negligence of Amit and Abhay which led to the accident.
Advice the Dependants.
3. A) An organization was in operation for the past 20 years. The organization gave a bonus every year during Diwali. For the past two years the organization did not give a bonus stating the reason that the company had not earned any profits. However, the balance sheet reflected clear profits. When the workers raised this issue the employers did not pay any heed as the workers were lacking a collective bargaining power. Without a trade union existing the workers found it difficult to fight for their rights. The employers also threatened to file a criminal conspiracy case against the workers. Analyze the case and advice the workers on a suitable solution.
3. B) Arjun was Director in a company. The company has units across the country – 2 in cities and 4 in rural areas. Each unit has approximately 30 to 40 workers working. The wages of each employee are different. Also the employees doing the same work but working in different units were not paid the same wages. An employee who was transferred from a rural unit raised this issue with the trade union. The trade union asked Arjun to get all the wages of all the employees at par. Arjun replied stating that disparities in wages was allowed.
Is Arjun justified in giving different wages to different employees working in different areas?