MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI SANTOSH GANGWAR)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): Several issues were taken up for discussion in the Conference. The details of the same and of the points raised by the participants on the same are at Annexure-I.
(c): The details of the outcomes of the discussions and the final decisions taken on the various items on the agenda of the Conference are at Annexure-II.
Annexure - I
The agenda of the Conference included the following:
Standing Items
I. (a) Reports of the Chairperson of the Governing Body and of the Director-General. (b) Global Report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
II. Programme and Budget proposals for 2004-05 and other questions.
III. Information and reports on the application of Conventions and Recommendations.
Items placed on the agenda of the Conference by the Governing Body
IV. Human resources training and development - Revision of the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 1975 (No.150) (standard setting, first discussion).
V. The scope of the employment relationship (general discussion).
VI. ILO standards-related activities in the area of occupational safety and health: An in-depth study for discussion with a view to the elaboration of a plan of action for such activities (general discussion based on an integrated approach).
VII. Improved security of seafarers` identification (standard setting, single discussion, with a view to the adoption of a Protocol or other instrument).
Intervening in the discussions on the Director-General`s report, Dr. Sahib Singh Verma, the Hon`ble Labour Minister informed the august gathering of International delegates to the Conference that a sincere and dedicated approach is required in this regard. It was stressed by him that several measures have been taken to meet this global challenge, adequate provisions exist for equality in the Constitution of India and various legislations are effectively in force. Specially focussed programmes are being implemented for creating additional employment and enhancing income generation aimed at helping vulnerable groups, which may not be sufficiently benefited from the more general growth promoting policies. The august forum of international delegates was also appraised of the efforts taken by the Government of India in this direction. The Hon`ble Labour Minister asserted that there should not be any discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion and geographical division.
In his intervention on the Global Report, which this year was on the subject `Time for Equality at Work`, the Hon`ble Minister of State for Labour emphasized that the work place is a strategic entry point to eliminate discrimination, Government efforts with regard to a positive and pro-active policy in tackling the problem of discrimination through constitutional, legal, statutory and developmental measures, were placed before the other international delegates.
In the Finance Committee, India supported and voted in favour of `Zero Actual Growth Budget` prepared by ILO.
It was mentioned in the Committee on Human Resources Training and Development, that it would be worthwhile for the ILO to develop an international skill development fund` so as to help poor countries to venture into large-scale skills training activities and improve their competitiveness.
In the Committee on Employment Relationship, it was made clear that training and skill development play a very vital role in upgrading the quality levels of employment. Therefore, a global system, under the umbrella of ILO, needs to be set up to find out the ways to help the developing countries in their efforts of skill development in the labour force.
In the Committee on Occupational safety and Health, it was mentioned that safety and health of the workers is a matter of great concern for the Government of India. Providing occupational safety and health to the unorganised sector at the workplace is a big challenge, which has to be met. The Government also expressed the belief that the ILO itself could play an important role in mobilising resources from the developed world to help the developing countries to transfer the workers from the informal to the formal economy and also by rendering technical assistance to complement the national efforts when requested by the country concerned. There was a strong need for the ILO to draw up a coherent plan of action in the area of occupational safety and health related activities. The Government endorsed the suggestion for a regular review of international collaboration activities in the area of occupational safety and health, as this would help the ILO to understand specific problems relating to occupational safety and health in the member countries and also the member countries would have appreciation of the specific measures taken by the others.
In the Committee on Seafarers, the Government member of India stated that since Convention No.108 was more than 40 years old it was time to review it.
Annexure - II
The Committee on Human Resources Training and Development adopted a Resolution that an item entitled `Human resources development and training` shall be included in the agenda of its next ordinary session for second discussion with a view to the adoption of a Recommendation.
The Committee on Employment Relationship concluded that adoption of a Recommendation on the subject would be an appropriate response. This Recommendation should focus on disguised employment relationships and on the need for mechanisms to ensure that persons with an employment relationship have access to the protection they are due at the national level. The Committee adopted the Resolution that the Governing Body give due consideration to the conclusions adopted by the Committee in planning future action on the employment relationship and request the Director-General to take them into account both when implementing the Programme and Budget for the 2004-05 biennium and allocating such other resources as may be available during the 2004-05 biennium.
In the conclusions adopted by the Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, an ILO action plan for the promotion of safety and health at work was drawn. The Committee also adopted a Resolution that with a view to increasing the impact, coherence and relevance of ILO standards-related activities in the area of occupational safety and health (OSH), the Governing Body of the International Labour Office should give due consideration to these conclusions in planning future ILO standards related activities in the area of OSH, noting that the opportunity exists for placing an item relating to OSH on the agenda of the 93rd Session (2005) of the International Labour Conference if agreed by the Governing Body in November 2003; and should request the Director-General to give them priority when implementing the present and the 2004-05 programmes, when allocating such resources as may be available during the 2004-05 biennium and when preparing future strategic plans and programmes and budgets, in particular for the 2006-07 biennium.
A draft revised Convention was adopted by the Committee on Seafarers.
