New Delhi, February 4
In an effort to set at rest apprehensions that the NDA government was closing down the PSUs and imposing anti-worker measures in the name of labour reforms, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today asserted that the government was not for closing down the PSUs.

“The PSUs are important pillars of the economy. An impression is being created that in the name of globalisation, the PSUs have lost their importance and the government wants to get rid of them. This is not correct,” Mr Vajpayee said giving away the Prime Minister’s Shram Awards, 2000.

Asking the political parties to analyse the country’s economic situation in totality and not in isolation, the Prime Minister said if it was necessary to close down a PSU, the government considered each and every aspect and the plight of workers was kept foremost in the mind.

“But, if a PSU is running in loss, how long can it be pulled along,” he asked, adding that it should be kept in mind as to how the workers would earn their livelihood. “Our intention is not to close down the units,” Mr Vajpayee observed.

Dwelling on the proposed changes in the labour laws, Mr Vajpayee said it had become necessary to meet new challenges and to make the industry more competitive. “These reforms are not anti-labour,” he said. “Rather they will generate more jobs.”

Mr Vajpayee said the interests of the workers would be kept in mind while carrying out changes and views of all political parties and labour organisations would be elicited.

“They should view the country’s economic situation in totality and not in isolation,” he said.

Stating that the PSUs should be run properly, contributing towards production and productivity, he said though the country was rich in human, natural and physical resources, there was shortage of capital and the government was trying to bridge the gap.