Amendments to EPF, Child Labour Acts may be tabled next month: Bandaru Dattatreya

HYDERABAD: The Centre is likely to introduce two Bills in the Parliament session next month to amend EPF and Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said here today.

Observing that changes are required in different laws in public interest, he said amendments are proposed in the EPF Act to benefit more workmen.

The proposed amendments to Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act) would be discussed with the inter-ministerial group, said Dattatreya, who holds independent charge of the Labour Ministry.

The government is keen on improving the ease of doing business in the country, but there will be no compromise on the rights and security of workmen, he said.

"EPFO, with the help of technology, is gearing up to update annual accounts for 2014-15 of about 14 crore members in April first week. All members will have their PF balances by the end of first week of April which is historic," he said.

The government is also working to extend social security benefits to the workers of unorganised sector, bringing into its fold a large number of workers under social security ambit, he said.

Hailing the passage of crucial Bills in Parliament recently, Dattatreya alleged that the Congress and Left parties were trying to defame the NDA government through a false campaign that it is "pro-corporate."

Noting that it is the right of political parties and MPs to voice their views, he, however, said it is not proper for them to disrupt the Parliament and government's business.

He emphasised that the government's endeavour is to provide employment opportunities to the youth, and said the 'Digital India', 'Skill India' and ' Make in India' programmes of the NDA government would provide large scale job avenues.

The Labour Ministry would be instrumental in providing employment and work opportunities to one crore people in the next two-three years, Dattatreya said.

Alleging that the Land Acquisition Act passed by the UPA government had certain defects, he said the compensation for loss of land has been increased four times by the NDA government now.

The governments would take up land acquisition only for public interest projects like railways and not for private persons or companies, he assured.

Highlighting that Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya laid emphasis on 'Antyodaya' (welfare of poorest of the poor), Dattatreya said the Narendra Modi government would not take any decision against the interest of the poor and downtrodden.