PM seeks support for govt's labour reforms agenda

NEW DELHI: Making a strong appeal for support to the government''s agenda of labour reforms, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the report of the Second Labour Commission was under consideration and it was likely to be implemented by the Budget Session of Parliament next year.
"The government is currently examining the recommendations of the Commission and will take suitable action thereafter," he said inaugurating the 38th Indian Labour Conference.
Vajpayee said "I would like to use this forum to once again make a strong appeal to one and all - both in and outside Parliament - for support to the Government''s agenda of labour reforms."
Conveying his appreciation to its Chairman Ravindra Verma, Vajpayee said the report throws useful light on many issues like welfare, safety and security of workers and the growth needs of the country''s economy.
Specifically, it endorses the broad thrust for labour reforms envisaged by the Government, while suggesting useful modifications and additional safeguards, he said.
He assured the Trade Unions that Government would give a serious consideration to their demands for raising ceiling onf bonus and for introducing suitable changes in trade union recognition by identifying a truly representative negotiating agency.
He said if the demands of the trade unions were legitimate, they would be accepted. But at the same time, if the trade unions should be prepared to listen to the views of the Government whose resources are limited.
Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma said copies of the voluminous report of the Labour Commission, submitted to the Prime Minister on June 29 this year, had been distributed among MPs and made public.
He said that the process of dialogue with representatives of workers and employers, labour experts and professionals had already been initiated to elicit their considered views.
He said it was a wrong impression that the report was anti-worker.
"It is not that the Government has to abide by whatever has been recommended in it. It may be more, it may be less," Verma said.
However, presenting the views of Employers'' Group at the Conference, Hasubhai Dave of BMS, a Sangh Parivar affiliated Trade Union, watned that the "anti-labour" recommendations in the report should not be accepted by the Government.