Sunday, February 26 2006 10:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Despite pendency of over 14,500 cases before labour tribunals, the Government has expressed its inability to set up any more Industrial Tribunal during the 10th Plan period, though it intends to make efforts to clear the backlog at the earliest.

The Government's stand was conveyed to Parliament in its action taken report on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Labour which had favoured setting up of more Industrial Tribunals and Labour Courts in the remaining period of the 10th Plan to clear the backlog.

The Parliamentary panel had also suggested 'vigorous efforts' by the Labour Ministry to implement the awards of the Tribunals 'in the quickest possible time' so that labourers did not suffer any more.

However, it was informed that since five new Industrial Tribunals-cum-Labour Courts have already been set up during the 10th Plan, it might be difficult to set up more number of such courts during the current plan period. But, the Ministry promised to make efforts to clear the backlog of cases 'as early as possible'.

As on June 30, 2005, 14,557 cases and 5,115 applications were pending in the Industrial Tribunals.

On a suggestion made by the Parliamentary panel for introducing more Lok Adalats in those states where number of industrial disputes are more and are lying pending for many years, the Ministry informed that efforts would be made in this regard during the current year.

On a suggestion for computerisation of the Labour Courts, the Government informed that all the 17 Industrial Tribunals have been computerised while the process was on in the five new ones.

On the Committee's recommendation to raise the wage ceiling from Rs 7,500 to Rs 10,000, if not more, for getting benefit under ESI Scheme without further delay, the panel was informed that the matter was still being considered by the Employees State Insurance Corporation.

The Committee had desired that the ESI Scheme should be extended to education and private medical institutions and also to workers in the unorganised sector across the country.

The Ministry, however, pointed out that there was no provision in the ESI Act to extend the scheme to unorganized sector workers.