Govt to bring legislation for social security to unorganised labour

New Delhi, Apr 26 (UNI) The government today announced in the Lok Sabha that it will bring legislation in the current session to provide social security to the workers in the unorganised sector with the House passing the 'Demands for Grants' for the Labour Ministry.

Replying to the debate on Demands for Grants for 2007-08 as provided in the General Budget, Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes said ''We are sending the Bill to the Finance Minister for approval and it will definitely be introduced in this very session.'' The Minister, however, did not divulge the quantum of funds for the purpose, while asserting that no Bill is introduced without considering the funds. ''But I cannot specify the quantum of the funds,'' he said in response to a specific query raised by CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta.

Responding to various suggestions from as many as 18 MPs, the Minister also assured that the ''hire and fire'' policy would not be imposed on the workers even after making some required changes in the labour laws.

''We wil hold tripartite consultations on the issue,'' the Minister assured.

He also assured that workers' 'Right to Strike' would not be taken away or curtailed. ''Besides, we will soon entrust the task to a proper institution to suggest ways and means to ensure implementation of labour laws,'' Mr Fernandes informed.

The Minister said the two-day Indian Labour Conference (ILC) deliberations beginning tomorrow would delibrate on the Bonus, Skilled labour, and other issues.

On the demand for at least 9.5 per cent rate of interest on the EPF as raised by several MPs, the Minister informed that the Trustees of the EPF Board would decide on the issue by May 15.

Earlier, Mr S Sudhakar Reddy (CPI) emphasised that it was quite possible for the government to pay 9.5 per cent rate of interest on the EPF.

The CPI leader also suggested that the Labour Ministry should make sincere efforts to recover the unclaimed arrears of the EPF to the tune of Rs 1200 crore.

On funds for social security for the unorganised sector, the CPI leader said there was need for at least Rs 45,000 crore.

Mr Yerran Naidu(TDP) and Prof M Ramadoss (PMK) asked the government to be more ''watchful'' as far as the interests of the workers were concerned, particularly when the employment on contract was on the rise and the price rise and inflation had hit the poor very hard.

They also called for implementation of the ''equal pay for equal work'' norm, implementation of the minimum wages among other things.

Dr K S Manoj (CPM), Mr Virender Kumar (BJP) and Mr Sunil Khan (CPM) also participated in the discussion.

UNI