Legislation for unorganised sector sought

Nagpur, Oct 28 (UNI) The National Convention on Social Security for the Unorganised Sector Labour has sought a comprehensive legislation for its burgeoning workforce.

The convention, which concluded here today, also called for a sustained campaign at state and village levels across the country, to meet the desired objective.

The three-day convention, which was attended by around 700 delegates representing about 150 NGOs across the country, focussed on the plight of the unorganised sector labourforce, which contributes to about 60 per cent of the total GDP (Gross Domestice Product). Representatives from NGOs covering 20 states of the country were present in the meeting.

The resolution passed on the concluding day of convention, while demanding enactment of the legislation, said that social security was not a matter of privilege for the unorganised sector, but a right for the huge labourforce in the country.

The NGO consortiumm also plans to meet the Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on this issue and garner support for their campaign. The resolution called for enactment of the resolution before the next Union budget.

Sardar Sarovar leader Medha Patkar, who was also present on the concluding day of the meet, hailed the contribution of the unorganised sector and added that their contribution matches that of organised sector. Addressing the gathering, she also demanded early legislation to provide social security cover to the unorganised sector constituents.

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