Write a critical analysis of significance of role of Company Secretary in case of Labour Audit.

In order to ensure sound corporate governance, company secretary professional could assist the companies in conducting due diligence to ensure compliance with applicable labour laws. Due diligence is one of the core competence areas of a practicing company secretary accordingly, practicing company secretaries could assist the companies in rectifying and correcting any lacunae which are highlighted upon conducting the due diligence exercise. Labour audit covers all labour legislations applicable to an Industry/factory or other commercial establishments. Practising Company Secretaries can conduct such audits and make value addition to the business of the employer. As stated above an Independent Professional like a Practising Company Secretary should identify various Central and State Acts and Rules that are applicable to an employer. Based on such identification, he should commence scrutinizing the compliance of provisions of the various Acts/Rules. Labour Audit envisages a systematic scrutiny of records prescribed under labour legislations by an independent professional like Practising Company Secretary who shall report the compliance and non-compliance/extent of compliance and conditions of labour in the Indian industry/ Factory/ Other Commercial Establishments.