The National Democratic Alliance government which came to power on the "public promise" of development is going full steam ahead with labour deregulation. Against the backdrop of government's attempts to dilute the three core industrial relations labour laws--the Trade Unions Act, 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947--this article delineates some major changes that have been proposed to the labour laws. It also highlights the defensive position of Indian trade unions that stems from the government's haste to amend labour laws.
