New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS): The Parliamentary standing committee on Labour has invited suggestions from experts, institutions, stakeholders and the public in general on the Industrial Relations Code and the Code on Social Security 2019.

The two labour codes were introduced in the winter session of Parliament and were referred to the Standing Committee on Labour headed by BJD's Bhartruhari Mahtab for examination and report.

"The committee have decided to invite memoranda containing views/suggestions separately on each Code from the public in general and NGOs/Experts/ Stakeholders and Institutions in particular," the Labour Ministry said in a statement.

While the draft Labour Code on Industrial Relations subsumes three labour acts, including The Trade Union Act, 1926, and The Industrial Employment Act 1946, the draft Code on Social Security subsumes nine including The Employees' Compensation Act, 1923, The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, and The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

Although the government says the codes will simplify old and complex labour regulations labour unions have opposed it, saying that the new code will allow employers to hire and fire workers easily.

As per the recommendations of the 2nd National Commission on Labour, the Ministry has taken steps for codification of existing Central labour laws into four codes by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalising the relevant provisions of the exisiting laws concerned.