Kerala - Kochi   

Minister hints at new labour policy

KOCHI: The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry held an interactive session on Saturday with Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan on the ‘Need for a well-knit Labour Policy.’

The Minister stated that the approach of the Government was to improve employer-employee relationship by laying emphasis on the need to increase productivity. He said there was acute shortage of skilled labour not only in Kerala but at the national level also. The skill and quality of the entire work force should be raised to international standards. Naturally, along with this, there should be a corresponding improvement in the standard of living. The State Government was fully seized of the importance of Cochin Port in Kerala’s economy and it was in view of this that the Government had taken the initiative to avoid the interference of certain unwanted interests so as to ensure its smooth functioning. The Government was also actively considering the question of evolving a farsighted Labour Policy keeping the economic and social conditions of our State in view, the Minister added.

In his welcome address ICCI president K. Retnan stated there had been improvement in the labour situation as far as Kerala was concerned. However, to achieve the desired goals as envisaged in the recently implemented Industrial & Commercial Policy and IT Policy and more so in view of the expected massive investment in projects such as Smart City and Knowledge City, there must be a well designed Labour Policy also. Its implementation in letter and spirit is also equally important.

It will immensely help faster industrial growth vis-À-vis large-scale employment generation. It would be ideal if, after framing such a policy, due consultations with all the parties concerned are made at different centres, including Kochi, as was done in the case of the Industrial Policy

ICCI Vice- President R Mohandas also spoke on the occasion.

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