New Delhi, May 18
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today categorically said that the process of economic reforms was “irreversible” and allayed fears of labour layoffs in the road to economic globalisation.
Inaugurating the 37 th Indian Labour Conference (ILC) here, Mr Vajpayee dispelled the fears voiced by trade unions about the potential danger of displacement of labour in the name of globalisation and asserted that the interests of workers would be given due consideration while deciding on disinvestment of public sector undertakings and inviting overseas investors to choose India as a destination.
The Prime Minister used ILC, the highest forum for discussion among employees, employers and the government, to lend muscle to the government’s proclamation that the retrenchment of workers was not among the preferred objectives and the structural reforms in the country’s economy were not anti-labour.
He also announced the launching of a Rs 150-crore ‘Khetihar Mazdoor Bima Yojana’ from July 1 aimed at providing insurance and social security to unorganised agriculture workers.
“The labour policies should not be seen in isolation. It should be viewed in a holistic manner, keeping in mind the larger interest of the nation,” Mr Vajpayee said.
“Maybe, during the period of transition, there can be some teething trouble,” he observed and rejected the charge that multi-national corporations have been given a free hand for the sake of attracting larger foreign investment.
Several trade unions and labour associations, including the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) which owes allegiance to the Sangh Parivar, have been criticising the government’s economic policies which they argue have been detrimental to the interests of the workers.
Even today, before the inaugural address of the Prime Minister, BMS leader Hansubhai Dave, pointedly observed that disinvestment in Balco and Modern Foods had sent concerning signals about the economic policies of the government.
Seeking a review of the economic policies, Mr Dave said any amendments in labour laws should be done by the Union Labour Ministry alone “without interference from any other ministry”.
Underlining the need for liberal economic policies in the context of the globalisation, Mr Vajpayee said that no country could ignore its multilateral and bilateral obligations.
Urging trade unions not to raise “an unnecessary alarm” and oppose disinvestment in principle, he said that “in the changing times, we have to stand in competition in the global market”.
“We have to carefully calibrate the pace and extent of external liberalisation to fully protect and promote our national interests,” he said.
