LABOUR MINISTER INAUGURATES STANDING LABOUR COMMITTEE MEETING
The Labour Minister Shri Sharad
Yadav has urged all the social partners to work for solving the
massive unemployment and underemployment problem in the country.
Inaugurating the 38th Session of the Standing Labour
Committee here today Shri Yadav said that the only way to improve
and ensure employability of increasing work force is by providing
them the facilities for suitable skill building and training.
He said that this demands a substantial setup in our skill training
efforts directed at the average worker both in the formal and
informal sectors. Shri Yadav urged the Committee to come up with
a dynamic vocational training policy to combat the mismatch between
the skill requirements of employment opportunities
and skill base of job seeks including women. He said that modern
technology and skill can only ensure continued and remunerative
employment in today competitive market. Referring to disinvestment,
the Labour Minister said that it is bitter but unavoidable so
far loss making units are concerned. He said that every step is
being taken to ensure that job of each worker is protected where
disinvestment has become unavoidable. Shri Yadav said that the
government is also working for extending social security cover
to workers in the unorganised sector.
Earlier welcoming the delegates, the Labour Secretary
Shri Vinod Vaish said that we have to tackle the problem of loss
of jobs in the organised sector. He said that several states have
taken commendable initiatives in providing social security to
the workers in the unorganised sector. Shri Vaish urged the conference
to take stock of these developments to move forward.
Participating in the discussion, the Bhartiya
Mazdoor Sangh, BMS, wanted the government to come out with a comprehensive
document addressing the concerns of the labour force. The BMS
said that the amendment to labour laws should have been one of
the subjects of discussions for the SLC. The Indian National Trade
Union Congress, INTUC, said that trade unions are in favour of
amending labour laws but they should benefit all stake holders
and not just one section. The INTUC wanted the government to wait
for the Report of the National Commission on Labour before undertaking
any amendment to labour laws.
The meeting observed a minute’s silence to mourn
the victims of violent incidence at Godra and elsewhere in Gujarat..
