NEW DELHI: (AMN) The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that the Government was making serious efforts to moderate the inflation rate. He said that the Government was keen on not only making growth faster but also more inclusive. Asserting that the Government was committed to economic reforms with a human face, Dr. Singh said its ability to devote more resources for social welfare activities depended crucially on growth rate. Dr. Singh said it has to be accelerated between 9 to 10 per cent.
Addressing the 43rd session of Indian Labour Conference here Prime Minister also said that there was a need to revise some of labour laws which had hurt the growth of employment. he said there was a need to consider the possible role of some of the labour laws in contributing to rigidities in the labour market which hurt the growth of employment.
The Prime minister emphasised the need for industry and labour to work together to remove barriers to faster economic growth and employment. This he said is essential to make a dent on poverty, unemployment and underemployment. He said the regulatory framework in the labour sector should encourage investment in labour intensive industries and also ensure welfare of workers. Dr. Singh also advocated strengthening of micro and small enterprises sector which has the second largest share of employment after agriculture. He said it encompasses a wide range of economic activities and also helps to check rural to urban migration by gainfully employing people in villages. Dr.Singh also asked the private sector to participate actively for the success of skill development programmes initiated by the Government. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Labour Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge said, a series of measures have already been taken to improve the lot of labour class in the country and more are in the offing.
The two-day conference will focus on the issues of job losses, contractual labourers and minimum wages. Labour Ministers of States and Union Territories are participating in the conference to prepare a road map for effective enforcement of labour laws and problems of migrant labourers.
