The Prime Minister today said that goals of fast and inclusive growth and of building a modern, industrializing economy can not be achieved without having sound industrial relations. Dr. Manmohan Singh said employers and workers representatives should work together to achieve an economic growth rate of at least 9 per cent.
Inaugurating the 44th Indian Labour Conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Dr. Singh reiterated government's commitment to the welfare and well being of labour, particularly in non organised sector. He said that the government has worked hard to translate this commitment into action in the last seven and a half years and it has started yielding results.
Dr. Singh said that the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana now covers more than 2 and a half crore Below Poverty Line families in the unorganized sector. The scheme has been extended to cover construction workers, street vendors, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme beneficiaries, Beedi workers and domestic workers.
The Prime Minister said that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA has checked distress migration substantially from villages and brought about an improvement in the wages of rural workers. He stressed the need for critically examining regulatory framework to see if it hampers growth of employment and industry without contributing significantly to labour welfare.
The Prime Minister said there is a need to provide opportunities to a large number of youth. Skill development infrastructure in the country has to be strengthened. He said the government has launched the Skill Development Mission, which seeks to bring about a massive increase in the number of formally trained workers through Public Private Partnership.
Dr. Singh said that female labour force participation in the country is extremely low. He said more facilities at work place can attract women. Part time work as full time employment can be the option so that women employees can also look after their families.
Reiterating his government's commitment to strengthening labour laws and ensuring their compliance for securing the welfare of the working class, Dr. Singh said, the Factories Act 1948 is being amended to include concerns arising out of disasters such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, and those relating to industrial disaster mitigation, rehabilitation and compensation for industrial workers and other affected persons.
AIR correspondent reports that the two day conference will deliberate upon topical and critical issues including minimum wages, social security and Employ ability and employment.
