Labour reforms through consensus: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that government is engaged in carrying out labour reforms through consensus and dialogue with stakeholders including workers without compromising on their genuine protections and rights.
Modi's assurance to the working class comes against the backdrop of the campaign by central trade unions against labour reforms and their plans to hold a day-long all-India strike on March 10 against the "anti-worker" polices of the central and state governments.
"We are progressing on the reform path by building consensus on these reforms through extensive stakeholder consultations with employers, worker's representatives, and state governments," he said addressing after inaugurating the newly-constructed building of ESIC Medical College and Hospital here.

Modi further said, "Keeping in mind our commitment to 'minimum government, maximum governance', the ministry is simplifying central labour laws by consolidating the existing 44 laws into four labour codes. Namely, on wages, industrial relations, safety and security, and health."
Modi was of the view that industrial peace and harmony
can be achieved only when the goals of employment and employability are in tune with the goals of industrial development and growth.

"It is our shared vision to have an environment which is conducive for inclusive growth and development of the country. I assure the state government all the cooperation from the central government in all its efforts in this direction," he added.

Talking about the ESIC's medical college in Coimbatore, he said the project worth Rs 580 crore will be a boon to ESIC beneficiaries and their family members in and around Coimbatore.
"Of the 100 MBBS seats proposed here, 20 seats will be reserved for the children of persons insured under the ESI scheme. We should strive to make this medical college and hospital a model for high quality medical education and treatment to workers of the State," he added.
Elaborating about the government's plans for upgradation of existing state and central medical colleges to increase MBBS seats he said, "Through this, we hope to increase 10,000 MBBS seats and support the colleges with funds for equipment and infrastructure."

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Modi said the Centre has also initiated major reforms in the Employees Provident Fund Organsation (EPFO) and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) as it wanted to provide increased coverage and better and expanded range of service for organised sector workers.
"We have initiated major reforms of EPFO and ESIC for the benefit of organised sector employees. A universal account number has so far been allotted to over six crore workers enabling portability of their EPF accounts," he said.
"Further, we propose to expand coverage and offer additional facilities and services through the ESIC," Modi said.
"My government is dedicated to the welfare of our brothers and sisters who are our Rashtra Nirmathas (nation builders). Sensing the need for expansion of ESIC, I had launched a second generation reform agenda named ESIC 2.0 in July last," he added.

Stating that the coverage of ESI scheme has been extended to the remaining North-Eastern states, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Island, the prime minister said it was proposed to expand the coverage from the present industrial and commercial clusters within a district to the entire district by March 31 this year.
Among other initiatives, ESIC has resolved to adopt two model hospitals in each state, apart from a mother and child care hospital, he said.
He said his government was committed to the development of a generous and comprehensive social safety net for all workers and pointed to the social security insurance schemes launched last year.

"This commitment to the builders of modern India comes from the firm belief that a Swasth and Samridh Shramik will make a Samridh Rashtra," he said tracing the growth of ESI scheme since its modest inception in 1952.
Noting that Tamil Nadu had a large network of 210 ESI dispensaries for out-patient treatment for the insured persons and their family members and that the state would run eight of the ESI hospitals, the Prime Minister assured the Centre's cooperation to the state government.