STATISTICS ON INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES, CLOSURES, RETRENCHMENTS AND LAY-OFFS IN INDIA DURING THE YEAR 2006
Labour Bureau receives statistics from State Labour Departments and Regional Labour Commissioners (Central) relating to all temporary work-stoppages on account of Industrial Disputes and reasons other than Industrial Disputes, on voluntary and monthly basis, involving 10 or more workers, whether directly and / or indirectly in the prescribed format. Besides, the statistics on permanent Closures, statistics on Retrenchments and Lay-offs are also collected. These statistics are disseminated by different sequences in this volume and placed on Bureaus Website http:/ /www.labourbureau.nic.in.
During, 2006, 430 industrial disputes were reported involving 1.81 million workers and resulting in total loss of 20.32 million mandays, Rs.1730.07 (in 173 cases reported) were lost by workers as wages and production loss of Rs.3813.82 million was reported (in 99 cases). Out of these disputes, 80 (18.60%) were in central sphere and 350 (81.40%) in the state sphere. The private sector accounted for 342 (79.53%) industrial disputes and the public sector only 88 (20.47%) disputes were reported. There has been a declining trend in the number of disputes, workers involved and mandays lost over the previous year 2005. The declining trend indicates comparatively better working condition and cordial industrial relations during the year 2006. (Para 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 of Chapter-1)
Among the states, West Bengal accounted for highest number of disputes i.e. 173 (40.23%). The manufacturing sector among the industry groups reported 259 (60.23%) of the disputes and the Wages and Allowances was the cause which accounted for 18.37% of disputes reported during the year 2006. (Para 2.2, 2.3 and 2.7 of Chapter-2)
The temporary work-stoppage have two components strikes and lockouts. Out of 430 industrial disputes reported during 2006, 243 (56.51%) were strikes and 187 (43.49%) were lockouts. The private sector accounted for 63.79% (155) of the strikes. Amongst the states, Tamil Nadu accounted for highest number of strikes i.e. 50 (20.58%) and West Bengal reported highest number of lockouts i.e. 144 (77.01%). There has been an increase in the number of strikes and decline in the number of lockouts during 2006 as compared to the year 2005. ( Table 2(II)(d) and Table-2(II)(g) of Chapter-2 ).
The number of work-stoppages due to reasons other than industrial disputes during the year 2006 was 182. Out of the total, 178 were lockouts and 4 were strikes. Here too, there has been a declining trend in the number of disputes, workers involved and mandays lost which indicates the better management of the economy and availability of raw materials, power and sufficient demand for the products etc during the year. (Para 4.2 of Chapter-4).
The number of Permanent Closures, as reported through monthly returns, was 168 industrial units, affecting 7189 workers during the year 2006. The permanent closures of industrial units during the year 2006 has shown as increasing trend over 2005. Among the states, Tripura accounted for highest number of closures i.e. 75.60% (127) and workers affected (51.20%) of the total closures. The Manufacturing of Other Non-metallic Mineral Products accounted for highest number of closures and workers affected i.e. 19.05% and 49.66% respectively. Financial Stringency was the main cause of closures which accounted for 19.05% of the closures. (Para 1.3 and 4 of Chapter-5)
The number of Retrenchments of workers by the industrial establishment during the year 2006 was 24 cases affecting 884 workers. There were 5 cases in the Central Sphere and 19 cases were reported from state sphere. The state of Gujarat reported highest number of retrenchments cases (6) whereas the Orissa state reported highest number of workers affected (544). Among the industry groups the Mining of metal Ores accounted for the large number of retrenchments (3 cases affecting 535 workers). There has been a declining trend in the number of retrenchments cases and number of workers affecting during 2006 as compared to the year 2005. (Para 1.3 and 4 of Chapter-6)
The number of Lay-Off cases, as reported in the monthly returns during the year 2006, was 50 cases in which 8299 workers were affected and resulted in a time loss of 969517 mandays. During the year 2006, the number of lay-offs, workers affected and mandays lost have shown a declining trend over 2005. The highest number (13, 26%) of lay-offs were caused by the financial stringency faced by industrial units and the industry group Manufacturing of Textiles reported highest number of workers affected (43.06%). The state of Kerala accounted for highest number of Lay-Offs (22%) (Para 1.3 and 4 of Chapter-7)
The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, establishes the machinery for reconciliation and settlement of industrial disputes. The statistics on the results of the intervention of the settlement machinery is also collected and compiled. The settlement machinery intervened and 275 disputes were terminated by different methods during year, out of which 84 disputes ere resolved successfully. Table-2(X)