Labour Conference to put spotlight on reforms,informal workers

Labour reforms, social security for all, job creation and bringing more workers under the formal fold are among the issues slated for deliberations in the forthcoming Indian Labour Conference (ILC) this year.

However, the schedule of the ILC, also known as Indian Labour Parliament, could not be finalised today in the 48th Standing Labour Committee (SLC) meeting. It is likely to be held some time in September this year, a source said.

The source added that the date will be finalised after approval from the Prime Minister's Office depending on the schedule of the Prime Minister.

"After detailed discussion of the agenda items, including the review of the action taken on the conclusions of the last ILC, by various groups, the SLC finalised the agenda -- social security for all, labour law amendment, reforms and codification, employment generation with special focus on women and transition to formal employment," a labour ministry statement read.
 

Addressing the SLC meeting, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said welfare of workers, including their health, is very important and the ministry has been working tirelessly in this direction on its own and also through its organisations like the EPFO and the ESIC.

He also stressed on educating workers on various initiatives taken for their welfare, particularly the legislative measures.

The minister also expressed hope that the new wage and industrial relations codes will pass the Parliament muster in the next session.

The 48th session of the SLC was attended by representatives of unions, central ministries and departments and senior officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said all central trade unions cornered the government over the action taken report on the recommendations of the 46th ILC held in July 2015.

He said all unionists, including from Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, criticised the government for "not doing anything substantial" on the recommendations and termed it as "action failure report".

The labour minister is the chairman of the conference. While C K Saji Narayanan was elected as the vice-chairman from the employees' group, Sudarshan Sareen was chosen as the vice-chairman from the employers' side. A Naidu, Additional Chief Secretary, Madhya Pradesh, was picked from the state government group.