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India Updates
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INDIA CALLS FOR EASY MOVEMENT OF SKILLED LABOUR IN WORLD MARKETS
New Delhi ~ June 11 2001
India has called for `skill globalisation' along with opening of national economies. The Labour Minister Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya
during his meeting with the Director General of ILO Dr. Juan Somavia in Geneva said that the developing countries are endowed with able and
skilled manpower resource which should have easy access to labour markets of the developed nations. The `skill globalisation' concept was well received by Dr. Somavia who called it as new and refreshing which the ILO would consider. Dr. Jatiya cautioned against attempts to link
labour standards with trade and said that ILO was the appropriate forum to discuss this issue.
Appreciating the Decent Work agenda of ILO Dr. Jatiya said that the same yardstick could not be used for both developed and developing countries. He emphasized the need for massive expansion in workers' training programmes as well as re-training programmes for those who are likely to go out of work due to structural reforms and technological upgradation. Dr. Jatiya expressed the hope that cooperation between the ILO's International raining Centre at Turin (Italy) and the V.V.Giri National Labour Institute would soon take shape to conduct relevant training programmes in India.
Acknowledging India's concerns the Director General ILO agreed that no common floor could be fixed globally for Decent Work. But he said a floor of common Rights as reflected in his Report on Decent Work could be accepted. He also appreciated India's concern on attempts to make labour standards a trade issue. Dr. Somavia said that it would require trust and support of developed as well as developing countries to make ILO the appropriate forum to discuss this issue. He said that he himself was from a developing country and understood the complexities of the situation.
The Labour Minister also informed the Director General in detail about the new initiatives in India to promote welfare of labour. He said that social partners at the apex level national tripartite conference the Indian Labour Conference in May discussed at length a number of issues that are coming up at the on-going International Labour Conference. These include impact of globalisation on labour markets and social security issues. He informed Dr. Somavia that a comprehensive scheme for providing pension and insurance cover to agriculture workers would become operational from next month. He also said that compensation amount to workers in the event of disability or death has been doubled. Further reforms in the labour sector would be taken after the Second National Commission on Labour submits its Report which is likely by the year-end. Dr. Jatiya said the Commission would also suggest a comprehensive umbrella legislation for benefit and welfare of workers in the unorganised sector.
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