Govt serious about issues raised by trade unions: PM

Willing to engage constructively and seriously on labour issues

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured trade unions that he and his government were willing to “engage constructively” with them on issues such as generation of employment opportunities and strict enforcement of labour laws.

Addressing the 45th session of Indian Labour Conference today, the PM said the government has been paying "serious attention" to welfare issues such as those that were raised during the recent two-day strike by trade unions.

He informed the gathering that the talks regarding universal social security cover for workers in both the organized and unorganized sectors were at an advanced stage.

Other such issues were the creation of a National Social Security Fund, fixing a National Floor Level Minimum Wage and provision of minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month under the Employees’ Pension Scheme.

The Cabinet, he said, has already approved amendments to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 to provide for a statutory National Floor Level Minimum Wage. The government was also considering the provision for minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month under the Employees' Pension Scheme.

"Even as the government works for reversing this situation (the economic slowdown) and I am confident we can do so and we will do it, we need the cooperation of both captains of industry and our trade unions," he said.