SME Bill may get Parliament nod soon

The Left parties, whose opposition to it was primarily responsible for the delay, have given a green signal to the government, according to Left sources.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who met CPI(M) leaders including politburo member Sitaram Yechury and MP Roopchand Pal yesterday, were learnt to have convinced the UPA allies about the need to clear the SME Bill, which has been pending since its introduction in the Lok Sabha in May last year.

The Left was opposing it on the plea that certain sections of the Bill sought to exempt the SMEs from obligations of labour laws relating to the working conditions and social security of workers.

Some time back, Left-backed trade unions had also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him not to go ahead with it.

Thanks to the emphatic and reassuring victory of the 'New Left' in the recent Assembly elections, the legislation will be passed shortly.

"The government has addressed our concerns about the SME Bill. They (government) say they will bring the Bill in the current session," a senior Left leader said.