Parliament today gave its nod to the Labour Laws (Exemption from Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Amendment Bill, 2014 with the Lok Sabha approving it. The Rajya Sabha has already passed the Bill. It aims at amending the definition of small establishments that employ between 10 to 40 people. The Bill adds that the employer may maintain the returns filed and the registers on a computer, computer disk or other electronic media. Printouts of these records shall have to be made available to the Inspector on demand.

The information may also be furnished to the Inspector by electronic mail. Replying to a debate on the Bill in the House, Labour and Employment Minister, Bandaru Dattatraya said, the Government is committed to bring reforms in the labour sector and protect the interests of the workers. He said, his Ministry is focusing on skill development, improving descent working conditions and generating employability. Mr Dattatraya said, 93 per cent workers are engaged in the unorganised sector and providing social security is the priority area of the government.