Bill to protect unorganised labour: Oscar Fernandes

Udupi, Mar 27: Union Minister of State for Labour Oscar Fernandes has said that the UPA government would soon pass a bill to protect the interests of labourers in the unorganised sector. Speaking at the valedictory of the capacity building programme for unorganised workers' organisations, organised by V V Giri National Labour Institute here last night, he said that the centre would spend a total of Rs 35,000 crore on various social security and welfare programmes for all working class in the unorganised sector. This included labourers in beedi, transport, plantation and fishing sectors. The centre would spent Rs 1000 crore every year during the next five years, he said.

He said that the ministry was also contemplating issue of skill certificates to those uneducated but skilled artisans. This would help these artisans in getting jobs in the country and abroad, he said.

Mr Fernandes said that the government had also spending Rs 550 crore for the upgradation of ITIs to make these institutes as centers of excellence. The ministry had also targeted to train 10 lakh people in these institutes.

He said that under rural development, the government had proposed to help provide direct marketing facility for the rural produces.

The panchayats would given responsibility of all rural health programme.

He said that the panchayats would also entrusted the effective implementation of 'Sarva Shiksha Abhyan' which was intended to provide education to all and arrest school drop out.

The Indian Labour Conference would be held at New Delhi on April 27, he added.

UNI