BANGALORE, MARCH 21, 2014: Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) has expressed serious concern over the worsening industrial relations in Karnataka.The Chamber has urged the government to act in order to prevent the situation from turning worse.In a release, BCIC said that considering the difficult economic situation the country is currently undergoing, both the management and the workforce should find the middle path to settle industrial disputes. Otherwise, it would lead to flight of capital from the State, the Chamber warned.
BCIC President HV Harish noted that companies were not doing well in the existing environment, with the macro-economic framework not helping matters either.
“Whether it is demand, interest rates, or tax and other duties, we are looking at a situation where many companies are just trying to survive. With a growing population, it is critical that more investment and jobs are created and harmonious labour relations are a must,” he said.
“Organised labour needs to appreciate that if they make it expensive for industry to use labour, industry will move and in the long term they would suffer. We also urge the government to actively work to prevent the situation from deterioration and provide protection to the facilities and people so that they do not face untoward situations. We are in a global market and consumers will meet their requirements from imported sources if domestic production is disrupted and that has a serious long-term impact on industry,” he added.
The Chamber said that the changing character of economy in the post-globalisation era has necessitated a fresh look into the dynamics of industrial relations, without diluting the principle of equity and welfare of the workers.
