New Delhi: Amid demand for labour reforms, the government on March 13 championed the cause of workers saying a Bill would be introduced in the current session of Parliament aimed at employees' participation in management and a 25 per cent representation for them in the companies' boards.

Any corporate violator could be subjected to a two years imprisonment or fine upto Rs 20,000 or both, in case the proposed Participation of Workers in Management Bill was passed in Parliament.

Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma told reporters he would approach soon the Union Cabinet for approval of the draft-amended Bill, which was first introduced in Parliament way back in May 1990. He said the employers would have to change their 'mindset' for imparting a sense of involvement in employees.

Reacting to the government's move, apex industry association FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) said that it would only add to the "high handedness" of inspectors and would deter investors.

"I will talk to employers before introducing the Bill in the current session of Parliament... I will talk to them during the recess (beginning March 14) period of the session," Verma said when asked about the Industry's opposition to the move.

Emphasising that workers had a right to know about the company where they worked and should be involved in running of the same in their own self-interest, Verma said that he had not yet encountered any resistance to his proposal.

PTI z