Labour Department is one of the oldest and important Departments of the Government
of Rajasthan. The main responsibility of the Department is to protect and safeguard
the interests of workers in general and those who constitute the poor, deprived
and disadvantage sections of the society, in particular, with due regard to creating
a healthy work environment for higher production and productivity. Government’s
attention is also focused on promotion of welfare and providing social security
to the labour force both in organized and unorganized sectors, in tandem with the
process of liberalization. These objectives are sought to be achieved through implementation
of various labour laws, which regulate the terms and conditions of service and employment
of workers.
Harmonious industrial relations are a pre-requisite for economic growth and in today's
world of technological innovations and market fluctuations; a re-alignment of the
conventional objectives of the Labour Department has become necessary. Now, the
Labour Department would not only have to ensure the implementation of labour laws
but also create an enabling environment for enhancing productivity, competitiveness,
labour welfare which would result in boosting economic development of the State,
leading to greater opportunities for job creation. Towards this end, prevention
of industrial strife would be one of the basic mandates of the Labour Department.
It would also fulfill its role of perfecting and effectuating the techniques of
mediation and conciliation of disputes, which might arise between labour and management
and iron out any differences between them.
At present there are 44 labour related statutes enacted by the Central Government
dealing with minimum wages, accidental and social security benefits, occupational
safety and health, conditions of employment, disciplinary action, formation of trade
unions, industrial relations etc.
WELFARE OF THE UNORGANISED SECTOR WORKERS
As per the survey carried out by the National Sample Survey Organization in the
year 2009-10, the total employment, in both organized and unorganized sectors in
the country was out of the order of 46.5 crore comprising around 2.8 crore in the
organized sector and the balance 43.7 crore workers in the unorganized sector. Out
of 43.7 crore workers in the unorganized sector, there are 24.6 crore workers employed
in the agricultural sector, about 4.4 crore in construction work and remaining in
manufacturing and service. In order to ensure welfare of workers in the organized
sector which, inter-alia, include weavers, handloom workers, fishermen and fisherwomen,
toddy tappers, leather workers, plantation labours, beedi workers, the “Unorganized
Workers” Social Security Act, 2008 has been enacted. As per the provisions of the
Act, a State Social Security Board has been constituted for recommending formulation
of social security schemes viz., Life and Disability Cover, Health and Maternity
Benefits, Old Age Protection and any other benefit as may be determined by the Government
for unorganized workers.
The Activities of the DoL are carried out through the Head office at Jaipur and
34 Regional/ District offices located across the state. The state level activities
are taken up by the Head Office, which also monitors the functioning of the Regional/
District offices. The District level activities are taken up at the respective Regional/
District offices In order to make the department more robust and effective, all
the offices of the Labour Department is kept under 7 divisional offices. Divisional
and District level officers are responsible to maintain effective functioning of
the department.