Strikes by those engaged in essential defence services prohibited by ordinance issued by government

Any agitation and strike by those engaged in the essential defense services have been prohibited by an ordinance issued by the government on 30th June.

To protest against the government’s decision of corporatizing the ordnance factory board, In the backdrop of the announcement made by major federations of the OFB to go on indefinite strike decided from the later part of the next month has the Essential Defense Services Ordinance 2021 has come.

All those shall come under the purview of the ordinance who are involved in  The production of defence equipment, maintenance of any industrial establishment which is connected with the military along with services and operations as well as those who are employed in repair and maintenance of defence products, according to a gazette notification.

All those shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which might extend up to two years besides prescribed fines who is instigating or inciting others to take part in a strike which has been declared illegal under the ordinance as said by a notification which was issued by the law ministry.

Tontability, efficiency and competitiveness of the nearly 200-year-old ordinance factory board which operates 41 ammunition and military equipment production facilities, a long-pending proposal to restructure it into seven state-owned corporate entities have been approved by the government on 16 June.

The decision has been driven by the efforts to boost India’s defence manufacturing sector and no change in the service conditions of around 70,000 employees of the organization shall be done as stated by the defence minister Rajnath Singh, following the approval by the Union cabinet.