Meaning:

Labour Laws are also called Employment Laws. It can be defined as a collection of laws which control the rights and restrictions or working people and their organizations, workplace health and safety, the standards of employment and industrial relations and all are covered under labour laws. IT is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace. India has been the permanent member of the governing body of ILO since 1992.

Classification Of Labour Laws

There are more than a hundred legislations dealing with labour law in India. Therefore, the classification of labour laws becomes important for the purpose of understanding them. One way of classifying them is on the basis of enactment and enforcement. The other way of classifying is on the basis of the purpose and the objective of the legislation.

The former type of classification is as listed below:

• The Labour laws enacted by the Central Government, the responsibility of enforcement of which lies solely on the Government.
• The laws enacted by the Central Government, the responsibility of enforcement of which lies on both Central and State Government.
• The laws enacted by the State Government and enforcement by them only.
• The laws enacted and enforced by various State Governments which apply to respective States.

The other types of classification can be done by dividing the legislation under broad categories.

Laws dealing with:

• Industrial Issues
• Remuneration payment, deduction and related issues
• The social security of the employees
• Nature and conditions of service and employment
• Issue of gender equality and women empowerment
  

Labour Policy In India

"Labour Policy in India" has been evolving in response to specific needs of the situation to suit requirements of planned "Economic Development & Social Justice" and has two-fold objectives, viz., Labour Policies are devised to maintain Economic Development, Social Justice, Industrial Harmony & Welfare of Labour in the Country.

Highlights of Labour Policy:

• Creative measures to attract Public & Private Investment.
• Creating new jobs with Social Security Schemes for workers.
• Unified and beneficial management of funds of welfare boards.
• Model employee-employer relationships with long-term settlements.
• Vital industries & establishments declared as "Public Utilities".
• Special conciliation mechanism for projects with investments of Rs. 150 crore or more.
• Statutory amendments for expediting and streamlining the mechanism of labour judiciary etc.