Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Amendment Bill-2020 was passed by the state assembly on Monday.
The bill seeks to amend the existing Act of 1988 to prohibit strikes by employees of essential services in the state.
AIR correspondent reports, expanding the ambit of essential services, the bill includes services like fire service, excise, forest, prison reforms, electronics and Information and Communication departments.
According to the provisions of the amended bill, persons resorting to or found instigating or funding illegal strikes may face imprisonment upto one year or a fine upto Rs. five thousand or both.
While the opposition alleged the amendment was an attempt to suppress the voice of workers, the government defended it as a move so that citizens are not deprived of essential services.
Trade unions too have opposed it as a ploy to divest the workers of their democratic right to protest.
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