On April 8th 2025 , the Government of West Bengal has issued a formal notice clarifying that retired employees of industrial establishments are not eligible to hold office in registered trade unions, in line with Section 22(2) of the Trade Unions Act, 1926.
The Office of the Registrar of Trade Unions, stated that several trade unions have been submitting defective or unlawful Annual Returns, particularly in listing retired individuals as office bearers.
Key Takeaways from the Notice:
- Retired employees are debarred from holding posts in trade unions of industrial establishments.
- Retired individuals may only be considered honorary members, and may serve only as part of the Executive Committee, not as Secretary, Treasurer, CEO, or CFO.
- The regulation is aimed at ensuring active employment-based representation in leadership roles within trade unions, especially in the organized sector.
This move reinforces the legal provisions under the Trade Unions Act, 1926, ensuring that trade unions are led by currently employed individuals who are directly impacted by workplace issues.
The directive has been issued with the approval of the competent authority and is expected to bring greater transparency and compliance in trade union governance across the state.
