In a tactical move to appease both industrialists and labourers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday vowed for labour reforms but underlined the need for respecting and rewarding the workforce in order to enhance productivity and foster economic growth.
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New Delhi: Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said it is essential for Indian society to develop a consciousness towards “dignity of labour”.
Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who heads a ministerial panel discussing labour reforms with the trade unions, warned of a threat to job creation if investments were blocked.
Stating that labourers play an important role in building the nation, PM said their dreams must come true. “Industrialists should encourage their labourers to become entrepreneurs”.
However, the president of the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, B.N. Rai, criticised the government over a “few wrong policies” and asserted that they would not allow any reforms at the cost of labour.
Modi has had to scale-back his ambitions for the short session of parliament that starts on Tuesday, with government officials privately saying the main focus will be on passing a law to enable a goods and services tax (GST). Safety of the work force can not be ensured without increase in economic activity, he added. “Or saving workers’ rights but protecting their own organisations”, he said, adding there was a need to recognise this thin line and adopt a balanced approach to change the industrial environment. The BMS has demanded that the industry-friendly Factories Act enacted by the BJP government in Rajasthan and the new labour laws by the Centre be withdrawn.
Expressing his country’s willingness to participate in “Make in India” initiative in the defence sector, he said, “We are flexible when it comes to transfer of technology”.
Dasgupta said he had asked Modi why he met the union delegates so “belatedly” in his tenure.
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Earlier, finance minister Arun Jaitley told the leaders that several issues like contract labour, social security, minimum wages and enforcement of labour laws can be resolved immediately while other matters required further discussion. They had sought the Prime Minister’s attention on issues related to the property of Muslim shrines, mosques and madrassas.
