No further delay on legislation for unorganised sector: Oscar

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) A day before the all-India general strike in the unorganised sector, the government announced that a re- drafted bill would be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament to provide a social security number to each worker in the 370-million strong unorganised sector.

It is being seen as an attempt by the government to allay apprehensions over the delay in bringing in a law to provide social protection to the unorganised sector.

"There is no question of any further delay on the bill, it will definitely be brought in the Monsoon session of Parliament commencing on August 10," said Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes.

Mr Fernandes' assurance assumes special significance in the wake of the nationwide strike call by the CITU tomorrow, which is likely to evoke total response in Left-ruled states and affect the air, train and road transport services in the country.

Talking to UNI, the Labour Minister, however, admitted that the bill might not be introduced on the very first day of the session but definitely would be tabled during the month-long session.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunshi had stated on May 24 when the draft bill was okayed by the Cabinet that the bill would be introduced on the very first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.

" We are making progress in the existing social security schemes for various sections of workers, which will be incorporated in the new bill," Mr Fernandes said.

The proposed legislation would enable the government to notify welfare schemes from time to time. The Plan is also to register all the workers in the unorganised sector and provide them with a social security number, the minister said.

This would help the labour force in the unofficial sector to avail benefits even when they migrated from one place to the other.

The minister said provision would be made to enable states to incorporate the existing social security schemes within the purview of the bill." States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have also certain social security schemes." He said the new draft bill would have the provision of constituting National Advisory Board which would work for evolving schemes for providing social security to unofficial workers.

"It will also be monitoring the finding of the schemes," Mr Fernandes said adding that in the earlier proposed bill, there was a provision of setting up Advisory Board at the central and state levels, which would make schemes and also look into the funding aspect of social security scheme.

In that bill, however, Mr Fernandes said there was no scheme as such for granting the funds." It was different in a way that it was like an umbrella legislation." The TUs while terming it as" skeleton bill" and an " mere eye wash," alleged that it offered nothing concrete in terms of funding by the government.

"The new bill will try to incorporate social security benefits in the legislation which includes provisions for life and disability cover, health benefits, old age protection and pension to beedi workers, weavers, mine workers, cine workers, rickshaw pullers, domestic help, construction workers and vendors," he said.

On the TUs demand for a wholly central government funded social security scheme for the unofficial workers,he said it could be done in a phased manner." It can not be done in one go. Besides the government is already spending huge amount on various schemes for the purpose," he said.

Elaborating, he said the employment to rural people was being provided in 300 districts of the country which is in a way a social security for the downtrodden.

The minister, however, denied having any knowledge about the cabinet note seeking to amend the Industrial Disputes Act." I have no information on any such note," Mr Fernandes said when pointed out to such a report in a section of the media.

The report said the proposal had been sent to the cabinet and to be circulated to other departments, that makes it mandatory for any company, employing 20 or more staff, to set up a grievance Redressal Committee ( GRC) to" mutually decide" disputes relating to dismissal, discharge and retrenchment or otherwise termination of services.

In response to a specific query, Mr Fernandes said in lieu of suggestions made at the last Indian Labour Conference, the government is working on amending the Bonus Act to increase the eligibility ceiling as well as the wage ceiling. The similar attempt is being made in the case of Gratuity Act also.

UNI