Labour and Skills Page

This department seeks to facilitate harmonious industrial relations in the state and to enforce various labour laws. There are a number of welfare schemes for different sections of workers. A number of welfare fund boards also function under this department. In Industrial disputes the department is the instrument for conciliation and conflict resolution between the labour and management.Established with an aim to develop and enforce labour legislation, the Labour and Skills department's mission is to advance safe, fair and harmonious workplace practices that are essential to the social and economic well-being of the people of Kerala.

 

Through the department's key areas of occupational health and safety, employment rights and responsibilities, and labour relations, the department's mandate is to set, communicate and enforce workplace standards while encouraging greater workplace self-reliance. The department also develops, coordinates and implements strategies to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses and can set standards for health and safety training.The department has major functions like quasi-judicial functions and enforcement of the various labour legislations.A range of specialized associations, agencies, boards and commissions assist the department in its work.

 

The State government formulated its Draft Labour Policy for 2017, which entitles for revamping the working hours, duration, wages and job safety to meet the present-day requirements. And is also aimed at ensuring decent wages and social security to employees in all sectors like migrant workers, Unorganised workers, women employment sectors and implementing Woman-friendly measures, ensure maternity benefits for the woman employees etc.

 

History

Earlier, formation of the Labour department was initiated by Diwan Sir C. P. RamaswamyIyer. Till then, the labour department was functioning as part of the Industrial Department. H. H. Maharaja, Sri ChithiraThirunalBalaramaVarma accorded sanction to the creation of the post of the Labour Commissioner as per the letter No.154 dated 26.01.1946. Since then the Labour Department started functioning as an independent department. 

Kerala has an enlightened labour force who knows their own interests as well the interests of the society at large. The labour in Kerala has always remained cooperative in running the industrial ventures both in traditional and modern sectors. It was unnecessary to teach them about the importance of undisturbed efficient running of industrial enterprises for the well-being of the society and for their own well-being. So the foremost task of the Government on the labour front was to restore confidence among the members of the labour force about the intentions and ability of the Government to restore their livelihood. The government started right earnest in reopening locked out factories, helping loss-making industrial units to run profitably and opening up plantations that were closed. While all these achievements were made Government took care that the welfare of labour was protected and preserved. This has created an august atmosphere in the State that enables an entrepreneur to start his venture in any sphere of Kerala's economy.An immediate effort made in the labour front was to make sure that labourers in traditional sectors got employment for the maximum number of days and minimum wages fixed for than were observed. The Labour Department has decided to raise minimum wages in traditional sectors (both organised and unorganised) in July 2008.