Event details
First advocacy meeting - March 25, 2025
Advocate P Selvi, one of the authors, led a civil society delegation on 25 March, 2025 to meet K Veera Raghava Rao, Secretary to Government, Labour Welfare and Skill Department, to present him a copy of the handbook.
The Secretary of Labour assured that the Tamil Nadu Rules and the Codes would be made available soon on the department’s website in Tamil, after it was pointed out by the delegation that they were not in the public domain and remained out of reach for the people of the state. He said the Tamil Nadu Rules for the Social Security Code will not come out as existing protections (in the state) are better. He also promised to look into the handbook to gain the workers' perspective.
Impact
Soon after the delegation meeting, the labour department has uploaded the State Rules on the Code on Wages and Industrial Relations Code on its website
Available at: labour.tn.gov.in
The OSHW (Tamil Nadu) Rules, 2022 in Tamil can be found here:
Available at: dish.tn.gov.in
Ongoing demands
P Selvi presenting the handbook to the Secretary of Labour
Publish the Codes (not only Rules) in Tamil: The Codes are still available only in English. The state government must take the responsibility of providing an official translation, or demand that the central government does so.
Extend the timeline for receiving suggestions on the Rules: The state government must also extend the timeline for receiving suggestions and comments on the Rules and make it clear until when the draft Rules are open for suggestions. As of now, the website states ““The time limit for submitting the objections / suggestions on Draft State Rules on Wage Code, Industrial Relations Rules & Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Rules framed under Labour Codes has been extended up to 15th July 2022.” This is obviously a careless cut-and-paste job from an earlier G.O. Clarity is demanded on the current timeline.
Second advocacy meeting - April 10, 2025
P Bala Murugan with MP R Sachithanantham
Bala Murugan, co-author of the handbook, met with R Sachithanantham, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Dindigul Lok Sabha constituency. During this strategic meeting, Bala Murugan presented a copy of the handbook to the MP and briefed him about its contents. Sachithanantham expressed interest in the handbook and acknowledged the importance of citizens having a voice in legislative processes, particularly regarding laws that directly impact their livelihoods and working conditions.