Date:19/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/19/stories/2007111954380500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Put creation of jobs on fast track: experts

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The three-day international workshop on global networks and decent work opened on Sunday, with a call to speed up the process of job creation in all sectors to meet India’s growth rate. The workshop was jointly organised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), International Institute of Labour Studies (IILS), Institute of Human Development (IHD) and Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC). Addressing the session, Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) sub-regional office for South Asia, Leyla Tegmo, said employment generation was not as fast as one would expect from the rate of economic growth the country has recorded. Employment has risen to 2.6 percent between 1999-2000 and 2004-05. However, unemployment was on the rise and underemployment was high, she said.

Inclusive growth

Ms. Tegmo appreciated the steps taken by the Government of India towards creating more employment. She said the international economic community has acknowledged the proactive initiatives and policy measures that the country was taking. With the focus of the11th Plan on inclusive growth, the setting up of the National Commission on Enterprises for the unorganised sector and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme were steps that would ensure social security through creation of jobs.

Decent jobs

Delivering the key note address, the senior adviser at the office of the Director General of ILO Geneva, Gerry Rodgers, said people have started thinking of decent jobs — a job where they can feel secure, where the families can be protected if something happened to the head of the family. A decent job is that which provides an income a family needs for decent living and be a part of the society. The definition of decent job extended much beyond, where the voice of the labour was heard, labour being treated fairly in relation with other employees and it was place where women and men are given equal rights Mr. Rodgers said. Mr. Rodgers said globalisation had a double impact: it generated opportunities and those with right capabilities can take advantage of them. About 100 delegates from India as well as overseas are attending the workshop.