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Lok Sabha passes bill to bar strikes in units providing essential defence services
Under the bill, the government may prohibit strikes, lockouts and lay-offs to protect the country’s sovereignty and integrity.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill that allows the central government to prohibit strikes and lockouts in units that provide essential defence services. The Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, was introduced in the Lower House on July 22 to replace an ordinance promulgated in June.
The ordinance was issued after the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the corporatisation of India’s main producer of weapons and military equipment, the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), to boost its efficiency and competitiveness in a long-awaited reform in the country’s defence manufacturing sector — but also one not well received by workers in the 41 factories that come under OFB. Essential defence services include units or undertakings involved in the production of goods or equipment required for defence.
Under the bill, the government may prohibit strikes, lockouts and lay-offs to protect the country’s sovereignty and integrity. Those violating the prohibition order can be punished or fined, or both.
Past records of performance have shown that the OFB has neither been able to produce quality equipment nor adhered to the timelines, former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd) said. “Globally, corporates are involved in the production of defence equipment. And with the corporatisation of the OFB, we are taking the same route to enhance quality and ensure timely deliver,” Jaswal added.
C Srikumar, general secretary of the All-India Defence Employees Federation, said: “This is a draconian law that takes away the democratic and constitutional rights of defence civilian employees. A signature campaign against the law has been launched in all 430 defence units across the nation.”
