Recommendations of the 43rd Indian Labour Conference
The Agenda of the 43rd Indian Labour Conference comprised of the following three subjects:
1. “Global financial down turn – its impact- job losses – comprehensive package for protection of labour force, etc.”2. “Employment generation and skill development”3. “Problems of contract labour, social security, wages, etc. and amendments in the contract labour legislation”The recommendations of the three committees on the above subjects have duly been considered in detail by the Government.
As
far as Global financial downturn and its impact on job losses is
concerned, Government accepts the recommendations of the Conference that
efforts should be made for job-rich growth. Government agrees that
there should be strict implementation of all labour laws, broad-based
social security depending on national circumstances, access to credit
for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, traditional and export-oriented
industries, extension of Public Distribution System for greater food
security, better skill training, more investment in infrastructure,
non-conventional renewable sources of energy, agro-based and
labour-intensive industries for greater job creation. In view of the
recommendations of the Conference, coverage of social protection schemes
like Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana is continuously being expanded to
cover more and more workers under the unorganized sector. Priority is
being given to education and health care in rural areas. Regular
meetings with the State governments are being conducted to ensure that
more and more schemes are implemented for the welfare of construction
workers under Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996.
Tripartite mechanisms like Indian Labour Conference and Standing Labour
Committee already exist in India. Government of India is committed to
encourage tripartite mechanisms for greater social dialogue at all
levels.
As far as employment generation and skill development
is concerned, government has accorded top priority to both these areas.
Focus is being given to employment generating sectors like agro-based
and food processing industries specially in rural areas. The number of
days under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was
increased from 100 days to 150 days for notified drought affected areas
last year. This increase has been extended to notified flood affected
areas of Uttarakhand this year. More focus is being given on micro and
small industries and for facilitating self-employment. Skill development
infrastructure in the country both in the formal and informal sectors
is being strengthened by taking all possible steps to increase the
employment and employability of workers in rural as well as urban areas.
As
far as problems of contract labour are concerned, a proposal for an
amendment in the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970
for giving same wages and social security to contract workers which are
at par with regular workers has already been initiated. The labour
enforcement machinery is being strengthened through regular monitoring,
follow up and capacity building for better implementation of the
Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.
In
case of some of the recommendations, changes have to be made in law
before they are accepted. The proposal for amendment of the Minimum
Wages Act, 1948 which inter-alia includes the proposal to fix national
minimum floor level wages statutorily to cover all employments, has
already been approved by the Cabinet. The draft Bill to give effect to
the amendment proposals is being finalized in consultation with the
Ministry of Law & Justice. An Amendment has also been proposed in
The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment
and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 with a view to do away the criteria
of 90 days’ work experience for registration under the Act.The above information was submitted by Ministry of Labour and Employment in reply of undermentioned Rajya Sabha Question:-
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO-123
ANSWERED ON-14.08.2013
Recommendations of the 43rd Indian Labour Conference
123 . SHRI T.K. RANGARAJAN
(a)whether Government has accepted the recommendations of the 43rd Indian Labour Conference and if so, details of the same;
(b)whether the recommendations are to be implemented by enacting a law; and
(c)if so, the present status thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SIS RAM OLA)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
* *******
STATEMENT
REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO.123 FOR ANSWER ON 14/08/2013 BY SHRI T.K. RANGARAJAN
REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 43RD INDIAN LABOUR CONFERENCE.
(a) to (c): *** see above ***
Source: Rajyasabha Q&A
