Rao promises Umbrella legislation for unorganised workers

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) Union Labour Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao reiterated on 'May Day' the government's commitment to enact an umbrella legislation for unorganised workers.

''The government is proposing to bring an umbrella legislation for unorganised sector workers, which would not only be an improvement upon the existing provisions, but would go a long way in meeting their social security needs,'' Mr Rao said in a message to Indian workers on the occasion of the 'International Labour Day'.

The government would ensure that the working class too shares the fruits of economic reforms, he said.

''On this day, which happens to be the International Labour Day and which represents the unity and solidarity of the working class, I extend to the workers all over the country my warmest greetings and best wishes,'' Mr Rao said in his message.

Though the government had initiated several important steps after independence for improvement in the working conditions and welfare of the working class, still much remains to be done, particularly, for the workers in the unorganised sector, which provides the major chunk of employment in the country, he said.

He said some important legislations have been enacted for the workers in the unorganised sector, but these could not meet the requirements of every section of the working class in this sector.

He said India has one of the largest work forces in the world, mainly in the unorganised sector, which has been left without much of labour protection. In order to mitigate their sufferings, the UPA government has launched new schemes like revised Integrated Housing Scheme and also recently enacted the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.

''We have to ensure that the working class is not adversely affected by liberalisation and globalisation. They ought to share the fruits of reforms as well,'' Mr Rao said.

In the coming years, the government wishes to further focus on workers' welfare, education programmes, skill development and upgradation and make vocational training more relevant in the light of the emerging needs of the economy, he added.

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