PRIME MINISTER APPEALS FOR
SUPPORT TO LABOUR REFORMS WITH HUMAN FACE
The Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee today made a strong appeal for support
to the government’s agenda of labour reforms both within and outside
Parliament. Inaugurating the 38th session of the Indian Labour
Conference, ILC, here this morning, Shri Vajpayee said that there
should not be opposition for the sake of opposition. He said there
should be a Laxman Rekha that should not be crossed while expressing
dissent. Urging the need for national consensus on reforms, Shri
Vajpayee said that reform is no longer an option but only the
right choice to be made. Citing the example of some of the neighbouring
countries who have established dominant positions in global markets,
he said that labour reforms have played an important part in their
growth strategy. Shri Vajpayee said that we too need to reform
our laws, institutions and systems so that investments can successfully
chase opportunities. He said that the rate of growth has to be
at least 8% in order to remove poverty and for generating employment.
Referring to the enormous untapped potential for employment generation
in the small scale sector, Shri Vajpayee said that competitiveness
of this sector needs to be strengthened, its commercial viability
enhanced, technological base improved, quality and productivity
stepped up, marketing developed and fresh investments made in
it.
The Prime Minister
emphasised that the interest of the workers would not be ignored.
He made it clear that the government’s commitment to broadening
of the social security net would never be diluted while accelerating
reforms which should have a human face. He said that this is a
moral and constitutional obligation on both the government and
the employers. Shri Vajpayee said that social security should
include food security.
Commenting upon
the industrial relations the Prime Minister said it is wrong to
say that labour is unimportant and dispensable in today’s age
of technological revolution and economic liberalisation. Shri
Vajpayee said that technology and capital are the creation of
labour and there is no conflict between labour and capital in
Indian Philosophy. He said that the Indian Labour Conference is
the product of this enlightened philosophy. Describing the ILC
as the Labour Parliament of India, the Prime Minister said that
it needs to be strengthened further. He expressed the hope that
the Report of the Second National Labour Commission would be discussed
by the social partners with an open mind.
Referring to the
demand for raising a ceiling limit of bonus and for introducing
suitable change in identifying truly representative negotiating
agencies, the Prime Minister said that the government will give
serious consideration to these demands.
Earlier in his
welcome address the Labour Minister Dr. Sahib Singh said that
the Government is paying more attention to sectors having employment
potential so that one crore jobs are generated each year. Reiterating
government’s commitment to tripartism, Dr. Sahib Singh said that
appropriate decisions on issues effecting the interest of workers
are possible only through social dialogue and tripartite consultations.
Referring to the impact of globalisation and liberalisation, the
Labour Minister said that it has to be looked along with its effect
on labour force. Dr. Sahib Singh said that there is need for strengthening
the social safety nets both in the organised and unorganised sectors.
He said that the government is considering to extend pension cover
to workers in the unorganised sector. It is also making efforts
to extend existing social security schemes to all sections of
workers. Dr. Sahib Singh said that the rate of interest on Employees
Provident Fund would continue to be 9.5% as it is based upon the
earnings of the EPF Deposits and not on the administered rate.
The Haryana Chief
Minister Shri Om Prakash Chautala, the Governor of Punjab Lt General
M. M. Jacob, the Minister of State for Labour Shri Ashok Pradhan
and the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Shri Manmohan
Singh were present. Representatives of Employees, Employers and
Central and various State Governments would deliberate on the
effects of globalisation and employment, disinvestment, social
security, problems of small scale industries and the Report of
the National Labour Commission during the two-day conference.
