Playing safe on the EPF rate cut front

THE NEW TEAM'S FIRST DAY/ LABOUR: Working condition of unorganised labourers to be improved

New Labour Minister Sis Ram Ola yesterday refused to be drawn into a comment on whether the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would slash the interest rate on deposits with the Employees Provident Fund from the existing 9.5 per cent.

The Left trade unions have already queered the pitch by saying they will meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to ensure that the rates are not changed.

The minister told reporters after assuming office that the improvement of the working condition of unorganised labour would be his top priority. He also said industry would be taken into confidence in tackling labour problems.

He said he did not have any prejudice against any scheme started by the previous government for the welfare of this category of workers.

"If we find the schemes to be in the interests of the workers, we will carry on with them," he said, pointing out that unorganised labourers constituted 93 per cent of total workforce in the country.

Ola also said the government was firmly committed to ensure the welfare and well-being of all workers. He said he would review the various welfare schemes, including social security, health insurance schemes for the workers in the unorganised sector such as fishermen, plantation and bidi workers.

The minister also promised to examine the feasibility of setting up of a new wage board for journalists.

Trade unions affiliated with the Left parties today said the draft Common Minimum Programme had laid inadequate stress on protecting labour interests and, instead, laid out over a dozen demands for the new government.

The general secretary of the All-India Trade Union Congress, Gurudas Dasgupta said the unions would meet Manmohan Singh and the labour minister on the issue tomorrow.

Dasgupta said their demands included the continuation of the 9.5 per cent interest rate on deposits with the Employees Provident Fund, amendments to Bonus and Payment of Wages Act, and labour law reforms. He also said steps should be taken in view of Supreme Court's observation on the right to strike.

The national convention of the unions, attended by CITU, AICTU, HMS, TUCC, UTUC and UTUC(LS), also endorsed the view that there should be a higher rate of interest on small savings.

Ola said, "I will study the proposal for setting up of a new wage board and if it is in the interest of journalists, then the government will extend all possible help in this regard."

When asked about the setting up of a new wage board as 10 years had lapsed since the last one was constituted, Ola, one of the four Congress MPs elected from Madhya Pradesh, said journalists were also workers and their interests needed to be protected.