Centre yet to implement act to stop child labour: Fernandes

Kolkata, Nov 0+4 (UNI) Union Minister of Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes today admitted that his ministry has failed to introduce an act to stop child labour problems.

''The child labour problems will be fully abolished in the country when we will be able to provide Rs 6000 per annum to all Below the Poverty Line families under the Centre's 100-days Employment Guarantee scheme, Mr Fernandes said in the sideline of a seminar on 'Impact of Finance Act 2006 on PF Trusts, Alternative investment avenues and Labour Reforms' organised by Merchants' Chamber of Commerce here.

''Why children should do domestic work instead of going to schools? We should be aware about a poor family's income before introducing the act to stop the child labourers in the country,'' he added.

He said, ''We are going to introduce a labour reform policy for the workers in the unorganised sector.'' Mr Fernandes said in a query that "the interest rates of Provident Fund will not be raised immediately but the EPF board would discuss with their trustees in this regard in the next meeting.'' The board is examining now to invest a portion of the EPF fund to the equity fund for better returns but any decision in this regard would be taken after consulting the employees and employers, the Labour Minister said.

''We will provide separate unique identity number to each employee and the EPF claims would be settled within two to three days, he added.

To a query about tax exemption, he said, ''We will finalise it in our next meeting.

He also said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi would decide the name of the next West Bengal Pradesh Congress president.

Central Provident Fund Commissioner A Vishwanathan, Merchants Chamber of Commerce president Santosh Saraf, UTI CMD U.K.Sinha among others were present.

UNI AKM JYN AB 1814