Clear social security bill soon: Labour body

Anguished over the Union Cabinet referring the ambitious Social Security Bill to a group of ministers, members of a tripartite labour committee on Friday demanded that a legislation to provide social security to the 37 crore unorganised sector be passed at the earliest.

At the 39th session of Standing Labour Committee, chaired by Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma, representatives of trade unions, irrespective of their political affiliation, felt that by referring the bill to a GoM, the much-needed social security measures would be further delayed.

However, briefing reporters in New Delhi after the day-long meeting, Verma expressed the hope that the bill would be passed by the Parliament this year itself.

Asked if there were any serious differences within the Cabinet over the bill, the minister said the idea was to improve upon it further by incorporating suggestions from all the quarters.

Verma said today's meeting discussed the agenda for the upcoming three-day meeting of Indian Labour Conference to be held in September and identified issues like the Second Labour Commission recommendations, employment generation and skill upgradation and social security, besides the proposed Unorganised Sector Workers Bill, 2003.

The SLC comprises representatives of trade unions, employers' organisations, the state and central ministries.

Participating in the discussions, the employers and trade unions felt that skill upgradation and vocational training were extremely important for India to compete at the global level.