39^th INDIAN NATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE DISCUSS EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY ISSUES FOR UNORGANISED SECTOR

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The 39^th Indian labour Conference which was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister yesterday, continued its deliberations today. The discussions were structured around for major themes. These included discussing the report of the Second National Commission on Labour – with emphasis on rationalization of Labour Laws; Commission’s Report on Unorganised labour; Employment Generation, employment Protection and Skill Upgradation in the context of S.P Gupta Report, and Social Security issues pertaining to EPF and ESIC. Each Committee consisted of representatives from workers’ group, employers’ group and State Governments.

The Committees held detailed and intensive discussions on the respective themes. There was a general concern about formulating protective and promotional measures for the sprawling unorganized sector which constitutes almost 93 percent of Indian workforce. The need for employment generation in unorganized sector was particularly felt in the context of shrinking employment opportunities in organized sector. There was also an expectation from both EPFO and ESIC to respond to the growing needs of social sector for unorganized sector.

The Committees will finalise their reports by this evening. These reports will be presented in the Plenary Session of the Conference tomorrow morning for adoption.