Absence of Labour Court raises questions on Industrial Relations Code in Manipur

The Manipur P.W.D Employees and Workers Association today questioned the effective implementation of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 in Manipur, citing the poor condition of the state Labour Department and the absence of a Labour Court or Government Tribunal.
In a statement, the association’s General Secretary R.K. Ratnamala said the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 consolidates three key labour legislations—the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the Trade Unions Act, 1926 and the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946. She stated that under sub-sections two and three of Section 2A of the Industrial Disputes Act, workers are entitled to directly approach the Central Government Industrial Tribunal or the Labour Court if conciliation proceedings fail to reach a settlement within forty-five days.
The association pointed out that Manipur does not have either a Labour Court or a Government Tribunal, even as various trade unions have been urging the authorities to establish these bodies for the past two years. In the absence of such statutory mechanisms, the association questioned how labour disputes would be adjudicated under the new legal framework.
While acknowledging the National Democratic Alliance government for passing the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 with the stated aim of simplifying labour laws and promoting better industrial relations, the association expressed doubt over the practical enforcement of the legislation in Manipur under the present circumstances.