Date:26/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/26/stories/2003072604261200.htm

National

Labour committee meeting disrupted

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 25. The Standing Labour Committee (SLC) meeting here was disrupted for some time today when the Labour Minister, Sahib Singh Verma, refused to accept the demand of the trade unions relating to the passing of a resolution to condemn the Tamil Nadu Government's attitude towards the striking employees.

Though no formal resolution was adopted, all the trade unions, including the All India Trade Union Congress and the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh referred to it as an ``unfortunate development.''

The matter was raised by the general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Gurudas Dasgupta, just before the Labour Minister was to speak. He said the Centre should make its stand clear on the action taken against the striking employees since labour was a Concurrent subject. He also expressed concern at the developments in Tamil Nadu, which had dealt a blow to the trade union movement.

Mr. Dasgupta reminded the Labour Minister that the trade unions had sought the Prime Minister's intervention in resolving the issue.

However, the Labour Minister reminded them that the matter was in the court. He would, therefore, refrain from making any reference to the subject.

The Standing Labour Committee had been called to finalise the agenda for the 39th session of the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) to be held later this year.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Mr. Verma said that this time the ILC would be held for three days to discuss at length the Second National Labour Commission report, employment generation and skill upgradation and special steps taken to provide social security to the unorganised sector workers.

It would also discuss the matters to be taken up at the International Labour Conference next week to present the Indian viewpoint in a more effective manner.