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Bal Thackeray opposed to labour reforms

In a setback to proposed labour reforms, Shiv Sena, a major National Democratic Alliance ally, on Saturday threatened to join hands with left wing trade unions in opposing the measure

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said that Defence Minister George Fernandes, who has a trade union background, should have resigned on the issue

"George Fernandes should have offered his resignation from the Cabinet on this issue as he had been closely associated with the trade union movement and was a veteran union leader in the past," Thackeray said in Mumbai.

Whatever status George has achieved today is because of the support given to him by workers, the Sena chief remarked.

To a question whether his partymen in the Union Cabinet would resign on the issue, Thackeray said, "We are not born to be in power."

The Sena chief said his party would join hands with the left wing unions and political parties, which were opposed to the amendment allowing closure or retrenchment in undertakings having a workforce of up to 1,000 without government permission.

"When unemployment is at its peak, such a step would be disastrous for workers," he said.

However, the Sena chief gave the government one month's time to take 'corrective steps' before finalising his strategy.

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