The Central Government has accepted the recommendations of 6^th Pay Commission with little bit changes here and there, but by agreeing to an handsome rise of 40% in the existing salary of the employees. 

 

As a matter of policy, this is a welcome step in right direction when there is an all round inflationary trend and rising expectations of the employees in a liberalized market driven economy. For example, if we take the case of Peon working in Class – IV category, he may be getting around a gross salary of Rs. 10,000/- per month after the acceptance and implementation of the recommendations of the commission. Considering this fact in mind, the question arises here is the disparity of salary drawn by a person working in the same position in private sector.

Here too, he is supposed to give optimum output to the satisfaction of the management/owner and sometimes he may be asked to attend more work and put extra hours to complete the assigned job. Who are responsible for this turn of event? If we look into the matter with all seriousness, the Trade Unions could not provide the needed solace and protection to the workforce in private sector on a permanent basis, though they are supposed to organize them and effectively fight for their cause with various authorities and organizations. In the initial years of post-independent era, there was euphemism that the work force in the country is going to get a slice of industrial development due to various protective measures legislated under various Labour Laws. Uptill 80’s, various trade union movements in the organized sectors controlled by major political parties could provide some sort of benefits due to their organized bargaining power, committed leadership and ethics amongst the leaders in certain sectors which include farm and plantation sectors. The success of their organized bargaining was dependant upon the response and the need of the employer and the indirect support extended to the work force through stringent supervision of the concerned administrative organs of the respective Governments. However, their achievements varied from state to state. 

 

Out of the above process, vested interested trade union leaders became professional who would try to exploit the strength and muscles power in an industrial unit or in an area which in turn became detrimental to the interest of workers. Further, there were competitions amongst the trade unions to establish or retain their supremacy which was capitalized by the managements through shrewd tactics of supporting and opposing one against the other according to their convenience which in the long run affected the prospects of their future and ultimately they became the tool of exploitation on one hand and subjected to coercion and threatening by their union leaders on other hand. 

 

If we look into the strike of textile workers in the middle 80’s in Mumbai and the adamant attitude of the mill owners to negotiate with them coupled with the silent and insensitive attitude of the Government emboldened the industrial sectors to follow the suit of stiff attitude towards the workforce. The failure of achieving anything concretely out of the historic struggle and lack of support from major political parties and trade unions resulted in closure of many industrial units even without following the rules laid down in Labour Laws and throwing all sorts of tantrums to make their struggle as great failures. The approach of the workers with various legal forums established by the Governments to take care of their interests could hardly give any time bound justice and thus a despondency crept upon their mental psyche that any demand for higher wages and benefits would be a costly affair and sometime it may event affect their employment and victimization by the management. 

 

We could further saw the liberalization and globalization process initiated in the 90’s and the promotion of private sector with all sops and incentives by the State Governments to boost up the industrial scenario diluted the various labour laws enacted by the Government to protect the weaker sections working in private sector. The large quantum of cases related with industrial disputes piled up in various industrial and labour courts delayed in settling or adjudicating their grievances had an adverse effect on the morale of the workforce. As a matter of fact, the Government was also keeping a steadied silence to make the adjudication and justice delivery system effectively and efficiently to the satisfaction of the aggrieved workmen. And as far as the incentives and benefits of relaxation in labour policies announced by the respective Governments were fully capitalized enjoyed by the owners of the industrial units till they received such relaxations at the expenses of the public exchequer and as soon as the scheme ended, they closed the units throwing the employees with impunity from their employment and thus making them as paupers and vulnerable to exploitations. 

 

In fact nobody, no leader, no government enquired the social status of a worker, when he was thrown out of from his employment. Nobody cared about the social consequences of such an act and its overall effect on the society. Thus, the intention of the Government to support or expand the economic development failed to materialize and whatever the benefits though not sufficient attained by them suddenly stopped again made the particular area as a backward region of the state. 

 

All the above factors restrained the workforce to react against injustice and they accepted it as their fate whereas many of the industrialists diversified the profits and diverted their business to more lucrative areas without thinking about the human factor and the contribution of their labour for making their entrepreneur as successful ones. The workers are sometimes asked to give more output and entrusted with multiple activities of different areas and ordered to put extra hours to achieve the target. If someone is failed to accomplish the desired work as per the design of the owner, he is shunted out from the employment thereby making an atmosphere of fear and insecurity about his employment. Such an environment exists not only in industrial area, but in other institutional areas including educational establishments. Every one will agree that this is an unwarranted exploitation of hapless, resource less and unprotected workforce in 21^st century. Though there are certain exceptions as regards better employment and career opportunities in large scale private and public sector units in various parts of the country, many of the medium and small-scale industries present a grim picture about the existing social conditions of millions of workforce.  

 

Therefore, the time has come for the Central Government to appoint a 1^st Pay Commission to find out the problems faced by the people working in private sectors which consist of industries, institutions, educational establishments, farm/plantation sectors in unorganized sector to make an assessment of their working conditions and recommend the following points :

 

(1)      Minimum salary/wages according to the output or nature of work.

(2)      Rising the salary according to the yearly profit made by the organization

(3)      Appointing various posts for different jobs depending upon the nature of work.

(4)      Fixing higher emoluments according to the skills/knowledge and intelligence

utilized for performing the specific work.

(5)      Welfare measures like reimbursement of hospitalization expenses,

Educational expenses, Retirement Benefits and other statutory benefits as

provided for Government employees.

 

The appointment of such a commission and implementation of its recommendation would enable the employees working in private sector to feel that they are not treated as second class citizens and their problems and issues are taken care of by the Government and their hard work and output are valued and rewarded in the ultimate analysis. Only such an environment will give justice to the present day remuneration policy of the Government. If it is neglected and set aside for the discretion and imagination of trade unions, they may not have any future prospects either in their employment or in their social and family life. Therefore, it is the onerous responsibility of the Government to see that social justice is meted out impartially and also visualize the future backlash of oppressed and suppressed sections in one or other form which a responsible or sensitive government boasting of democratic tradition and social equity may not be able to accept it as a fact and face of advanced economic development.