Inaugurating the 46th Indian Labour Conference here, he said there was need for a combined effort on the part of the labour unions, the industrialists and the government to bring about results which were in the interest of the nation’s economy.
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“As a society, we need to respect the dignity of labour”, he added. The Prime Minister sought to explain the rationale for labour law reforms even while some trade unions close to RSS have vehemently opposed the government’s moves.
Observing that country can not remain happy if labourers are unhappy, Modi said, they contribute immensely for nation building and businesses can not run properly in absence of cordial relation between workers and employers.
Labour Unions too should join in the effort to nurture innovation, he said.
The unions asserted their stance ahead of today’s 46th Indian Labour Conference, where trade unions and industry came face to face to discuss various issues, including government’s labour reforms.
Over tea at the weekend, Modi reportedly told union leaders that they would be included in discussions along with companies in the build up to the labour law shake-up.
The first meeting of the high-powered witnessed divergent views on contentious issues of contract labour and minimum wages, though there were unanimity over providing more benefits and social security cover to workers. The Prime Minister said there is a thin line that separates the good of the industry and the good of the industrialist.
He said the Union government, by allowing the Rajasthan government to carry out “unilateral reforms” in labour laws such as the Factories Act and then approving the amendments, “has created a sense of urgency in states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to choose the same wrong path”. Passing it would in itself be a victory and go someway to reassuring investors who are growing jittery that economic modernisation is happening more slowly than they hoped under Modi.
We are concerned about the health of our labour.
“A dialogue with trade unions began yesterday”.
The Prime Minister’s meeting followed an extensive consultations which the trade union leaders held with an inter-ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
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“Lalit Modi, Vyapam, IPL and what is happening in Rajasthan.we are demanding that all the tainted ministers should quit”.
