Nabha:- A controversy has arisen over the Punjab Labour Department issuing the draft rules of the new ‘Labour Code’ only in English. Dr. Ambedkar Workers Union expressed strong objection to this and said that if the workers for whom these laws are being made, how will they give suggestions if they cannot even understand it in their own language? The Language Department has written a letter to the Labour Department asking it to issue the draft rules in Punjabi as well.
It is worth mentioning that despite the Punjab State Language Act, people have been struggling for years for the Punjabi translation of many important laws such as MNREGA and BOCW. The Language Department has already issued notices to 64 government departments to work in their mother tongue, but English still dominates at the ground level.
Labor organizations have demanded that this draft be made available in Punjabi immediately before the suggestion period ends on February 20 so that ordinary workers can raise their voices for their rights.