 While in the Rajya Sabha, he was Union minister for Law and Justice between 14 February – 26 June 1988, and then Minister for Labour from 26 June 1988 until 1 December 1989.Dubey was closely connected with the trade union movement in the coal, steel, engineering, power and sugar industries.He was also closely associated with Indian National Trade Union Congress and became its national president in 1984, having previously been a state president till his last breath.