Asserting that its focus will be on providing descent working condition for labourers and compliance of labour laws, the government today said dialogues with trade unions on various issues will continue to bridge the gap between them and the Labour Ministry.
Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who today met members of various central trade unions after taking charge of his ministry recently, said the government will go ahead with already-introduced amendments in various labour laws in the forthcoming Winter Session of the Parliament.
"I have expressed to them (Unions) that the government and my ministry will be for workers' interest. The consultation process will continue. I expressed to them that my focus will be on descent working conditions and compliance of labour laws," he told reporters.
Also Read
The trade unions have already announced that they will hold a massive country-wide protest on December 5 against the "anti-worker" amendments introduced by the Narendra Modi- led government.
Alleging that the government was continuing with its "unilateral" policy, trade unions have urged the Minister not to bring amendments to various labour laws without consulting them.
The Minister said the government's priority was to increase productivity, develop entrepreneurship and improve employability in the country through skill development.
He said his ministry also wants to focus on unorganised sector which cover 93 per cent of the labourers.
The Minister said the government led by Narendra Modi is committed to labour reforms but "not at the cost of the working class".
"I told them (Unions) I need cooperation of trade unions and there should be a consensus. They have expressed some reservations about labour laws. I told them the consultations and dialogues will continue and I hope that the gap between trade unions and ministry will not increase," he told reporters.
Asked if the government will push through the amendments to labour laws in the forthcoming Winter Session of the Parliament, the Minister said, "Whatever amendments which have been moved earlier, will continue.
