INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES IN INDIA DURING THE YEAR-2003 

P R E F A C E 

            Harmonious relationship between workers and the management in any industry is not only necessary but essential for industrial peace and growth of the economy. Both Workers and Management are active and conscious partners of production and they know about their gains and losses in economic activities. However, sometimes conflicts between the aforesaid two main partners of production develop, which may lead to Strikes and Lockouts resulting in temporary work-stoppages or closures. It is, therefore, essential for the planners and policy makers to have at their disposal, the relevant and up-to-date statistics on work-stoppages for taking effective remedial measures to ensure industrial peace. Labour Bureau aspires to fulfil this requirement through its annual publication entitled ‘Industrial Disputes in India’. This edition, 23^rd in the series presents the statistics on industrial disputes for the calendar year 2003.

Labour Bureau has put in a lot of sincere effort to present up-to-date statistics on industrial disputes for all those who are interested in doing research and study industrial relations as well as for Planners and Policy Makers to frame Rules and Regulations to prevent unrest resulting in work-stoppages. This work is sometimes delayed due to delay in the receipt of primary data from the State and Central agencies. We are making every possible effort to bridge the gap in data, to the extent possible, by eliciting supplementary information from the source agencies through the developed communication system and also through regular correspondence and visits, etc.

            I express my sincere thanks to the State and Central Labour authorities for furnishing the required information / data on Industrial Disputes.  I also place on record my appreciation for the work done by the team of officers and officials ( Annexure II ) for bringing out the present edition of the Publication.

         I shall be highly thankful for any suggestion for improving further the scope and contents of this Publication.

SHIMLA                                                                                                                               BALRAM

DATED: THE 18^th MARCH, 2005                                                                             DIRECTOR GENERAL