Over 400 lakh job seekers registered with exchanges till Sept

NEW DELHI: Over 400 lakh job seekers have registered with employment exchanges across the country till September, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

"The number of job seekers, all of whom may not be necessarily unemployed registered with employment exchanges as on September 30, 2011 was 401.02 lakh in rural and urban areas taken together," Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said in a written reply.

He said the number is usually taken as an indication of the level of unemployment in the country.

The ministry has prepared a draft ' National Employment Policy' with an aim to accelerate employment growth, particularly in the organised sector and improve the quality of jobs in terms of productivity, average earnings and protection of workers, specially in the unorganised sector.

Under the policy issues such as macro-economic policy, sectoral policy, labour policy, micro and small enterprises, skill development, women and vulnerable workers have been considered and steps suggested for improving avenues of employment, he said.

To another question, Kharge said there is a proposal of signing of an MoU with US Department of Labour focussing on area of cooperation like skill development and youth employment.

The MoU will also focus collaboration in areas such as occupational safety and health and mine safety and health.