Trade unions unhappy with social security legislation

Terming the Union Cabinet's approval for an enabling legislation for social security of the unorganised sector workers as a breach of the commitments made in the National Common Minimum programme (NCMP), Central Trade Unions including the one affiliated to the Congress protested against the 'diluted provisions' in the Bill.

CPI(M) affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) termed the approval of the bill in the present form as "a rude shock to the 93 per cent of work force in the country"

It added in a statement that while the agricultural workers have been totally sidelined, the proposed legislation in respect of the unorganised workers offers nothing concrete except setting up of a National Advisory Board and enabling the centre to notify welfare schemes from time to time

"The Bill has no enabling clause which would provide meaningful benefits for these workers. It does not ensure regulation of employment or better working conditions," MK Pandhe, president of the CPI(M) affiliated CITU told Business Standard.

The unions have also opposed the Centre's proposal of passing a Bill to enable the the states to frame rules and regulations for the sector.

"Instead of bringing out a nation-wide legislation, the Centre wants the state to frame the laws which would only lead to lack of uniformity in the provisions and ineffective regulation," Amarjeet Kaur, secretary, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) told Business Standard.

"The legislation does not provide for the financial support of workers like a minimum wage or a corpus fund which could come to the rescue of these workers," Kaur added

Congress affiliated INTUC said that though the Bill mentions provisions for life and disability cover, health benefits, old age protection etc no financial commitment was evident.

"The Bill lacks a mode of implementation. There should be financial commitments for ensuring these provisions," Dr G Sanjeeva Reddy, president INTUC told Business Standard.

The unions have also said that the Cabinet decision today had virtually negated a series of ongoing exercises - the second National Commission on Labour, the draft Bills circulated by Ministry of Labour, the note and draft Bill forwarded by NAC, the Bills formulated by the National Commission on Enterprises in Unorganised Sector (NCEUS).

The unions said that not even the conclusions arrived at the Labour conference nor the unanimous suggestions placed by central trade unions were not taken into account.

To register the protest with the government, the cental trade unions would have a meeting with the Minister for Labour on May 31 where other issues like EPF, Consumer Price Index, Bonus Act would also be taken up, MK Pandhe said.