Agri labourers to be included in compensation package
At the meeting, Ficci proposed to introduce a new employment Act which would be employment friendly with extensive social security coverage.
By INDIATIMES NEWS NETWORK |
Kolkata: The labour ministry wants to include agricultural labourers who will lose their jobs as a result of land acquisition for special economic zones (SEZs) in the compensation package under preparation.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting organised by Ficci, Union labour minsiter Oscar Fernandes said: “Till now, we were only talking of compensation for the land owner whose land would be acquired for an SEZ. But we strongly feel that workers who are engaged in farming activity should also be able to access the compensation package.”
Mr Fernandes also indicated that existing labour laws for SEZs would continue till new laws are enacted. “Let the SEZ issue be settled first. We can decide on the appropriate labour laws,” Mr Fernandes said.
At the meeting, Ficci proposed to introduce a new employment Act which would be employment friendly with extensive social security coverage. “The new Act will not touch on the privileges of the existing labour force and their employment can continue under the existing law,” said Mr C.K. Dhanuka, chairman, Ficci (eastern region).
The proposal was upheld by the Union labour minister. “In India, only 7% of the workforce is engaged in the organised sector and enjoy all social security. But the remaining 93% have no social security cover. We can work out a model to address this. We have no problems if the management and workers decide this on a bipartitite basis. The government will play the role of mediator. Our focus is to create an ambience for employment generation.”
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He also informed that the Social Security Bill for the unorganised sector would be tabled before Parliament in the monsoon session. Earlier, the West Bengal labour minister Mrinal Banerjee said existing labour laws do not come in the way of economic growth.Download
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