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        The proposed tabling of a social security legislation for the unorganised sector workers in the forthcoming winter session of the Parliament will bring no cheer to them as it is being said that it is not on desired lines to ensure security cover for over 40 crore workers.

        The National Campaign Committee for Unorganised Sector Workers (NCC-USW) had stated clearly that a comprehensive social security and regulation of employment through a single piece of legislation was imperative.

        Convenor of Tamilnadu Forum for Creche and Child Care Services-T N FORCES Shanmugavelayutham demanded that while looking into recommendations, the formation of tripartite committee involving government, employer and trading unions could be done instead of constituting a National Advisory Board proposed by the Centre.

        He also recalled that the National Commission for Enterprises in Unorganised Sector, set up by the United Progressive Alliance government in September 2004, with Arjun Sengupta as chairman,had presented its report on Social Security for Unorganised Workers on 16 May, 2006 to the Prime Minister.

        Citing one of the terms of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government's Common Minimum Programme (CMP) which ensures the comprehensive social security to unorganised sector workers, he said, that by proposing to introduce a legislation by diluting the demands of the unorganised sector workers, the Centre had hoodwinked the unorganised workers.

        Former Additional Labour Secretary T S Sankaran, during a national seminar on 'Central Comprehensive Legislation of Unorganised Sector Workers' recently, urged the Centre to enact a comprehensive law for unorganised sector workers to ensure employment guarantee, fair wages and social security.

        He also said the National Advisory Board, being proposed by the Centre, should look into the representations made by various sections of organised workers before making recommendations to the government.

        The list of jobs in the unorganised sector includes handloom and powerloom, dyeing, fishing, poultry and animal husbandry, tea, coffee, rubber, cashew, plantation, processing, horticulture, sericulture, forests and allied activities tree climbing, home-based work, vendors, handicrafts, traditional and modern services, shops and establishments, transport and allied, salt pans, small scale and cottage industries, domestic, loading and unloading goods sheds, yards markets and tailoring.

        Activists have said employment regulation, service conditions, standard wages, social security and committees to look into sexual harassment of women relating to unorganised sector workers should also be part of a composite Bill.

        Also, trade unions should make concerted efforts to bring pressure on the UPA government to bring about meaningful and practical legislation for the benefit of the agricultural and unorganised workers.

        Hopefully, the legislation ought not be a non-starter.