Unorganised Workers Bill referred to Select Committee

Bangalore, Apr 11 (UNI) Bowing to pressure from the Opposition, the Karnataka Government today referred the Karnataka Unorganised Workers Welfare Bill, 2002, to the Select Committee for perusal after unsuccessfully seeking to withdraw the Bill in the Legislative Council.

Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari, who moved the motion to withdraw the Bill, said it was being done as a separate legislation was being brought in by the Union Government, which was more comprehensive and rational.

The Bill was introduced in 2002 to provide for the welfare of unorganised workers in certain areas in the State and regulation of their employment conditions, including health, safety and security of employment and for matters connected therewith in over 68 scheduled sectors. However, the Bill could not be passed and was referred to the Select Committee for its review in 2003. The Government today sought to withdraw the Bill.

Leader of the Opposition H K Patil, strongly opposing the move, urged the Minister to take efforts to get it passed in the interest of lakhs of people working in the unorganised sectors. The State Government's move to withdraw the Bill was against the interests of the working class, he alleged.

JD(U) members Basavaraj Bommai and Dr M P Nada Gouda, and Congress member V S Sudarshan criticised the move and urged the Government to refer it to the House Select Committee for re-consideration and introduction in the House for approval.

Accepting the Opposition demand, the Minister agreed to refer the Bill to the Select Committee for review and adopt it till the Central Bill came into effect.

UNI