The Manipur government notified the Draft Rules for the Industrial Relations Code in the gazette on 19 November 2021.
Applicability
Once in force, the Draft Rules will apply across the whole State of Manipur, effective from the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette.
Compliances
The Draft Rules prescribe twelve forms covering procedures under the Code:
- Form I – Memorandum of settlement reached during conciliation, or between employer and workers outside conciliation proceedings (Rule 2)
- Form II – Notice of an employer’s proposed change to service conditions (Rule 16)
- Form III – Agreement for voluntary arbitration (Rule 17)
- Form IV – Authorization for representation before the authority under the Code (Rules 19, 39 & 40)
- Form V – Oath of office for a Judicial or Administrative Member of the National Industrial Tribunal (Rules 20 & 21)
- Form VI – Application to the Tribunal for matters unresolved by the Conciliation Officer (Rule 22)
- Form VII – Notice of strike by a union or group of workers (Rule 23)
- Form VIII – Notice of lock-out by an employer (Rule 24)
- Form IX – Notice of retrenchment or closure to the appropriate Government under Chapter IX (Rules 25 & 27)
- Form X – Application for permission of lay-off, continued lay-off, retrenchment, or closure under Chapter X (Rules 28, 29, 31 & 33)
- Form XI – Notice to an employer for a first-time offence, for compounding under Section 89(4) (Rule 36)
- Form XII – Complaint under Section 91 of the Code (Rule 38)
Manipur’s Adoption of the Central Rules
Manipur’s Draft Rules largely mirror the Industrial Relations (Central) Rules, 2020. Rules 1-A to 42 of the Central Rules have been adapted directly, since the matters the Central and State Governments are each empowered to prescribe under Section 99 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 are identical. Rules 4 and 5 give the State Government authority to resolve difficulties in interpreting or applying the Draft Rules, and to decide on matters the Draft Rules don’t expressly address. The Draft Rules carry no provision creating any financial obligation for the State Government.