National Seminar

National Seminar on Comprehensive Legislation for Unorganised Sector Workers successfully held

A National Seminar on Comprehensive Legislation for Unorganised Sector Workers took place at ISI Delhi on 23rd November 2005. This seminar was aimed at reaching a consensus between NCC-USW, the Central Trade Unions, SEWA and NCL on a comprehensive bill and involving different segments of Unorganised Sector Workers in the campaign.

The National Seminar was attended by representatives of YUVA, Unorganised Workers Federation of Tamil Nadu, SEWA, Oxfam Trust, National Centre for Labour, National Campaign Committee for Rural Workers, Nirman Mazdoor Panchayat Sangam, National Alliance of Peoples Movements , Lok Raj Sangathan, Indian Social Institute, CSDS , All India Hand Embroidery Trade Union, AI Foundation , Action Aid and several Delhi based organisations including Ankur, Bal Vikas Dhara, Centre for Civil Society, Domestic Workers Forum, Dr.A.B.Baliga Memorial Trust, Hazards Centre, IDS, Kshitij, Mobile Creches, Nirmala Niketan (Tribal Domestic Workers Cooperative) , Pavan Putra Rehri Patri Khomcha Sangh, Rashtrawadi Janata Tipaiyya Chalak Sangh, Saathi-All for Partnership Sajha Manch and Social Jurist.,

The seminar was attended by representatives from seven states including Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.

On behalf of NCC-USW, Shri T.S. Sankaran pointed out that there cannot be any social security without employment security and therefore the social security legislation must include provisions for regulation of employment. Secondly, the mechanism of implementation must be tripartite from top to bottom and the ‘workers facilitation centres’ must be managed by the tripartite board. Thirdly, out of the central and state revenue, at least 3% must be reserved for the social security of Unorganised Sector Workers as they contribute 65% of the GDP. Further, this percentage must keep on increasing by 1/2% to 1% annually until a satisfactory level of social protection is reached for every man, woman and child in our country.

The next Indian Labour Conference scheduled for 9th-10th December, 2005 has on its agenda the issue of legislation for unorganised sector workers. Besides seeking participation in ILC the Seminar decided to approach all participants of the ILC to form a consensus on important aspects of a Comprehensive Central Legislation for Unorganised Sector Workers.

The National Seminar ended with a call to organise a nationwide Mass Dharna on 19th December, 2005 to demand a comprehensive central legislation. The seminar also decided to start a Post Card Campaign to the Prime Minister, to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, and to Members of Parliament and State Chief Ministers.