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Reforms inevitable but we'll protect labour interests: PM
By Our Special Correspondent
The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, presenting the Shram Ratna award-2000 to Raghavan Pillai Parameswaran Nair of the Korba Super Thermal Power Station, Korba , M.P., at New Delhi on Monday. - PTI
NEW DELHI, FEB. 4. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today said India would not follow globalisation blindly but devise its own standards to meet the country's needs and aspirations. The interests of the workers would be kept in mind while ushering in labour reforms that had become inescapable to give a competitive edge to the Indian industry and service.
He said that changes in the ``archaic labour laws'' would be made only after consultations with all the stakeholders. The Government would also consider the recommendations of the Second National Labour Commission before deciding on these changes and abide by its responsibilities to protect the interest of workers.
Speaking at a function at Vigyan Bhavan after presenting the Prime Minister's Shram Awards, he sought the
support of all sections to labour reforms. There was no escape from labour laws, he said and called for a debate on the subject with an open mind. A change in the outdated labour laws had become inevitable in the face of globalisation and liberalisation. These reforms were essential to enable industry and the services to acquire a competitive edge in the global market. However, these should not be seen as anti-labour.
Mr. Vajpayee said the Government was not against the public sector units. These units ``are pillars'' of the economy and the Government policy ``is to close only those units that cannot be revived''.
``We are in a competitive age and have to create a better place for Indian goods in the world market by way of improved quality and productivity. We would not follow globalisation blindly and devise our own standards that shall meet our needs and aspirations.''
Earlier felicitating the award winners, the Labour Minister, Sharad Yadav, emphasised the need for providing a greater thrust and a higher investment in skill development and the training of workers as a mere five per cent of the labour force in the age group 20-24 years had vocational skills. In all, 28 workers employed in the Departmental and Public Sector Undertakings of the Central and State Governments were honoured by the Prime Minister with 17 Shram Awards for the year 2000 in recognition of their distinguished performance.
The most prestigious Shram Award of Shram Ratna, carrying a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakhs with a `sanad', was presented to Raghavan Pillai Parameswaran Nair of the Korba Super Thermal Power Station (NTPC), Korba, Madhya Pradesh. The two Shram Bhushan Awards comprising Rs. 1 lakh and a `sanad' each were conferred on five workers. While Asis Bhattacharyya of the Rifle Factory Ishapore (W.B.) bagged one, the other award was shared by a four-member team comprising A. Ramesh Babu, N.P. Monappa, K. Shivdas and T. Ramachandra of Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd., Bangalore.
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