Though there is difference of opinion about the status of teachers and whether they come under the scope of workmen under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, they will come under some of the labour laws. As such, they are workmen under ESI Act, EPF & MP Act, and Payment of Gratuity Act.
Under the present working conditions in various private schools and colleges, I don't think that they should be excluded from the scope of Industrial Disputes Act also. This is because an school or college is also an industry coming under the ID Act. Section 2 (j) of the ID Act defines ‘industry’ as “any business, trade, undertaking, manufacture, or calling of employers and includes any calling, service, employment, handicraft or industrial occupation or avocation of workmen”
The Supreme Court has expanded the meaning of the term industry in the famous Bangalore water supply case and the court has overturned many previous decisions. The court has held that any activity would be an industry if it met the ‘triple test’, ie,
1. There is a systematic and organized activity.
2. There is collaboration between employers and employees.
3. It is for the purpose of production and distribution of goods and services, whether capital is invested in this activity or not.
In schools or colleges also there is a service and as such there is no meaning in letting the teachers out of the scope of ID Act. Interestingly, the administrative staff, the clerical, Engineering, Housekeeping etc, are workmen and they have separate minimum wages fixed and in many places the said minimum wages would be higher than the salary paid to the teachers who are "doing a NOBLE profession" that they do not come under the purview of workmen!!