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Friday, Apr 01, 2005

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Ministers' meet to discuss labour reforms

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 31. The Union Labour Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, today said a meeting of State Labour Ministers had been convened on April 22 to discuss labour reforms. The draft proposals emerging from this meeting would be sent to the Centre.

Addressing leaders and representatives of central trade unions here as part of consultation process on reforms, Mr. Rao said there was a need for fewer regulatory labour laws and have policies and schemes that promote greater production and labour welfare. This was the second in the series of such meetings, the first having been held with major employers and presidents of chambers of commerce few days ago.

The Minister told the trade union leaders that with efficiency, cost-cutting and consumer satisfaction becoming bywords of present-day business, there was need for a more skilled labour force, working during night shifts and more women joining the work force.

Describing the creation of job opportunities as a major economic and social concern, Mr. Rao said that with not much scope in the public sector these have to be created in the private sector.

Private entrepreneurs' concerns about productivity and returns to capital were becoming dominant factors of consideration.

While, by and large, favouring the labour reforms, the trade union leaders opposed automatic `hire and fire' of workers and demanded assured job security in view of globalisation.

The leaders demanded the speedy enactment of comprehensive legislation for unorganised sector workers, guaranteeing them minimum wages and job protection.

They also wanted a separate legislation for the welfare of agricultural workers. Hasubhai Dave (Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh); G. Sanjeeva Reddy (Indian National Trade Union Congress); M. K. Pandhe (Centre of Indian Trade Unions); Umraomal Purohit (Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh); Mahadevan (All India Trade Union Congress); and Jaya Shanker, member, National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganised/Informal Sector, were present at the meeting.

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