The Ministry of labour and Employment (MOlE) is always at the forefront to contribute to inclusive growth and safeguarding the interests of all workers as well as creating conducive environment for the growth of Industries. India is a founder member of IlO and has a proud legacy of social dialogue and tripartism which has functioned well. Government has always made a determined effort to build up a system of dialogue between workers
and employer’s organisations and the government.
The ministry has been proactive in ensuring decent work conditions and improved quality of life of workers. It has put best effort to reach to a consensus on all issues and many tripartite meetings and discussions have been held before taking decisions on variety of issues.
The Indian labour Conference is the tripartite consultative body at national level. The 46th Session of the conference was held recently under the chairmanship of minister of state (independent charge) for labour and employment. He inaugurated the conference at the Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. He dedicated to the nation the National Career Service (NCS) portal and launched ESIC 2.0 — the reforms Initiatives of ESIC, during the inaugural session.
The conference deliberated on issues like implementation of the conclusions/recommendations of the 43rd, 44th and 45th Indian labour Conference, particularly on contract labour, minimum wages and scheme workers and tripartite mechanism, social security for workers in organised sector, unorganised sector and international migrant workers, amendment of bonus act — removal of conditions on payment ceiling, eligibility limits, decisions to pay minimum bonus without linking to loss when the performance indicator satisfy grant of bonus, labour laws amendments proposed/done either by the central or state governments, and employment and employment generation. The ministry of labour and employment is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) project by transforming the processes in the network of employment exchanges.
The NCS project envisages setting up of Model Career Centres (MCCs) in order to efficiently connect the youth with job opportunities with the help of technology and assisted by guidance. The NCS portal will provide a link between the job seekers and job providers. All the employment by the connected employers will be available on the portal and youth can apply for the job from any part of the country.
ESIC 2.0 — the health reform initiatives of ESIC was also launched during the inaugural session. The initiative is a comprehensive package meant to transform the public service delivery system in ESIC through effective use of information and communication technology. The reform package has many initiatives including the initiatives to expand the coverage of ESIC. Four initiatives have already been operationalised. Among the health reforminitiatives getting operationalised is electronic health records of its approximately eight crore beneficiaries.
24/7 medical helpline is another unique initiative getting started. ESIC is going to strengthen cleanliness drive across all the hospitals in the country through colour coding of bed sheets in the patient wards. This operation Indradhanush will ensure the mandatory health and hygiene in ESIC hospitals across the country through a very simple and effective manner.
After the inaugural Session and general discussion, the conference split into five committees to have detailed deliberation on each item of the agenda of the conference.
Each conference committee met separately to discuss the subject matter assigned to it in detail and present the conclusions arrived at therein for adoption in the concluding session of the conference.