West Bengal government is mulling amendment of labour laws to prevent strikes on "trivial issues", while also checking unfair labour practises.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had recently sought an end to the 'bandh culture' in the state in the interest of industrialisation.

"The West Bengal government, through a new labour policy, will help labourers understand the advantage of having a discussion to solve industrial disputes instead of calling a strike on trivial issues," labour minister Purnendu Bose told PTI in Kolkata.

"Militant trade unionism led to the closure of many industries in the erstwhile Left Front regime," Bose, a former Naxalite leader who joined the Trinamool Congress after taking part in Singur movement, said.

"Irresponsible trade unionism will not be tolerated.

Right to strike is the last resort, but cannot be be misused," he said.

"If a factory closes down, the workers are affected the most. The new government believes in negotiations to keep factory gates open," Bose, who is also a trade union leader said.

He pointed out that strike ballot was essential before an industrial action, which was not followed.

"In a number of cases, strike ballot rules are not followed before going on strike. This cannot continue," he said.

Noting that there were 20 to 22 labour laws and the entire labour rules needed to be reviewed, Bose said, "We have already studied the labour policies of Maharashtra and Haryana and this will help us formulate the new labour policy."

Speaking against unfair labour practises, he said there were instances when managements did not attend negotiations.

"Laws should be amended to force the management to attend tripartite meetings to be convened by the government. We will take up with the Centre the need to make necessary amendments in the Industrial Disputes Act for the purpose," he said.

Stressing that loopholes have to be plugged, he said sometimes the managements declare suspension of work instead of lock-out. "Fourteen days notice is required in respect of declaring a lock-out," he said.

On the IT sector, the minister said though formally it was covered by labour laws, they were violated.

He said that employees in the sector worked for 12 hours a day without getting overtime payment.

"There is need to increase the recess time for the employees as also to look into the job allotment and job pattern," he said.

Observing that shifts sometimes tended to stretch to 18 hours, he asked, "Why should there not be three shifts in a day instead of two shifts?"

Bose said that in many call centres and BPO establishments, employees were compelled to work only in night-shifts.

"I am in discussion with the minister for industry and IT Partha Chatterjee to formulate working norms to make the working condition humane for employees," he said.