EXPLAINED | What Is Essential Defence Services Bill 2021 Passed In Parliament Today

The bill, replacing the ordinance promulgated in June 2021, aims to prevent workers of the government-owned ordnance factories from going on strike against the corporatization of the units.

(Representative Image/Getty)

New Delhi: The Parliament on Thursday approved the Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, with its passage in the Rajya Sabha.

The Lok Sabha had earlier on Tuesday passed the Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, which was promulgated on June 30, 2021, prohibiting strikes, lock-outs, and lay-offs in units engaged in essential defence services.

The bill, replacing the ordinance promulgated in June 2021, aims to prevent workers of the government-owned ordnance factories from going on strike against the corporatization of the units.

What Is Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021?

The proposed legislation empowers the Central government to declare services mentioned in it as essential defence services “the cessation of work of which would prejudicially affect the production of defence equipment or goods; or the operation or maintenance of any industrial establishment or unit engaged in production of goods or equipment required for any purpose connected with defence; or repair or maintenance of products connected with defence”.

The bill also prohibits strike and lockouts in “any industrial establishment or unit engaged in essential defence services”.

The Union Cabinet had earlier in June given its approval for the corporatization of the Ordnance Factory Board, under which the 41 factories producing ammunition and other equipment for the armed forces will become part of seven government-owned corporate units.

The Ordnance Factory Board was previously managed by the department of defence production and worked as an arm of the government.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who introduced the Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, in the Lok Sabha on July 22, had earlier assured the workers that their interests would be safeguarded.