dear Mr.Korgaonkar,
I appreciate ur immediate n sincere response with a copy of the proposed bill n thank u very much.Barring the Working Journalists( Conditions of Service & Missll.Provisions) Act,1955 there were no labour legislations incorporating gratuity as one among the service conditions though the matter was receiving the attention of the Govt. of India since as early as 1943 and a recommendation in this regard was given by the Labour Investigation Committee.As usual only the states of Kerala n West Bengal became the forerunners and passed their own State's Acts of Gratuity respectively in 1970 n 1971.Other states also seriously started to have their own laws on the subject.So a compulsion for a common law applicable through out the country arose n the Central Govt enacted this law in 1972.Initially the Act covered only those employees drawing wages(only basic+dearness allowance) upto Rs750/= p.m in factories,plantations,shops,establishments n mines.The quantum of gratuity payable was fixed @ 15 days last drawn wages. The maximum amount of gratuity was limited to 20 months wages.Since then, the Act was amended 7 times in 1984,1987,1994,1998,2009 and 2010 incorporating periodic n drastic changes and modifications in its coverage, applicability,definition clauses,ceilings etc.,Though I am as much skeptical as you are about the bill's metamorphosis, it is a welcome effort by a people's rep n if comes to fruition, it will be of immense benefit to the working masses considering the galloping inflationary trend in cost of living n the changes in life-style.
I appreciate ur immediate n sincere response with a copy of the proposed bill n thank u very much.Barring the Working Journalists( Conditions of Service & Missll.Provisions) Act,1955 there were no labour legislations incorporating gratuity as one among the service conditions though the matter was receiving the attention of the Govt. of India since as early as 1943 and a recommendation in this regard was given by the Labour Investigation Committee.As usual only the states of Kerala n West Bengal became the forerunners and passed their own State's Acts of Gratuity respectively in 1970 n 1971.Other states also seriously started to have their own laws on the subject.So a compulsion for a common law applicable through out the country arose n the Central Govt enacted this law in 1972.Initially the Act covered only those employees drawing wages(only basic+dearness allowance) upto Rs750/= p.m in factories,plantations,shops,establishments n mines.The quantum of gratuity payable was fixed @ 15 days last drawn wages. The maximum amount of gratuity was limited to 20 months wages.Since then, the Act was amended 7 times in 1984,1987,1994,1998,2009 and 2010 incorporating periodic n drastic changes and modifications in its coverage, applicability,definition clauses,ceilings etc.,Though I am as much skeptical as you are about the bill's metamorphosis, it is a welcome effort by a people's rep n if comes to fruition, it will be of immense benefit to the working masses considering the galloping inflationary trend in cost of living n the changes in life-style.