March 14, 2002

    The Report of the Second National Commission of Labour is expected by April 15 this year. Giving this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha the Minister of State for L:abour and Employment Shri Muni Lall said that the Government is committed to safeguard the legitimate interests of workers during the reform process. He said the Commission has been set up to suggest rationalization of laws relating to the labour force in the organised sector. It has also been entrusted with evolving an umbrella legislation for ensuring minimum level of protection to the workers in the unorganised sector. He said the trade unions are duly represented on the Commission. Shri Muni Lall said that the economic exploitation of the labour force in the country is checked through enactments and enforcement of various labour laws both by the Central and state governments. Inspecting Officers of the Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM) make regular and periodic inspections of establishments in the central sphere to ensure enforcement of labour laws aimed at protecting and promoting the welfare, social security, safety and health of workers. He said that during the year 2001-02, the CIRM officers carried out 34,968 inspections, rectified 3,60,712 irregularities, launched 16,040 prosecutions and secured 7,475 convictions of defaulting employers.