Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh says, sustained growth between nine to ten per cent is essential to make a dent on poverty, unemployment and underemployment. Addressing the 43rd session of the Indian Labour Conference in New Delhi today, Dr. Singh said that the government is committed to protect the interests of weaker sections while carrying out economic reforms. The Prime Minister called for greater partnership between industry and labour to remove barriers to faster economic growth and employment. He said, the regulatory framework in the labour sector should encourage investment in the labour intensive industry. Dr. Singh said that more resources for social welfare activities can only be devoted, if the country is on the high growth path. The Prime Minister asserted that it is also important to make the industry more competitive by enhancing productivity. Dr. Singh said that the government has to be watchful to ensure that the gains of enhanced productivity are equitably shared among workers, consumers and shareholders. Strongly advocating on this issue in the conference, the Prime Minister said, it is important to look into the implementation of labour laws and policies to ensure that the benefits reach the desired class. Referring to the initiative taken by the government for the welfare of labour, he said, the concerns of unorganized sector are high on the agenda including those working in agriculture, self-employment, part-time jobs and seasonal works. The Prime Minister stressed the need that there has to be emphasis on aligning training facilities with the demands of industry and active participation of the private sector is crucial for the success of skill development programmes. Responding to the concerns of labour class, he assured that the government is doing its best to moderate the impact of inflation on the prices. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said, a series of measures have already been taken to improve the lot of labour class in the country and more are in the offing. The two-day conference will focus on the issues of job losses, contractual labourers and minimum wages. Labour Ministers of States and Union Territories are participating in the conference to prepare a road map for effective enforcement of labour laws and problems of migrant labourers. The Minister of State for Labour Harish Rawat was also present on the occasion.