The Labour and Employment Department, Tamil Nadu (“Department”) has in a Notification dated June 14, 2019, declared “Auto Components Manufacturing Industries” as a public utility service under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for a period of 6 months from the date this Notification is published in the Tamil Nadu Gazette.
The implication of this is that no employer engaged in the said industry can declare a lock-out without giving a notice to the employee. Any lock-out declared without giving 6 weeks prior notice and during 14 days of giving such notice or before the expiry of the date of the lock-out specified in such notice, will be illegal. Further, no lock-out will be permitted during the pendency of any conciliation proceedings before a conciliation officer and 7 days after the conclusion of such proceedings.
Likewise, no person employed in the said industry can go on a strike without giving notice 6 weeks before striking and during 14 days of giving such notice or before the expiry of the date of strike specified in such notice. Also, no workmen should participate in any strike during the pendency of any conciliation proceedings before a conciliation officer and 7 days after the conclusion of such proceedings.
Source: Labour and Employment Department, Tamil Nadu
