Though the decisions were never been implemented properly, at the initial stages ILC played some important role in shaping and influencing the Labour Policy in the Country. But afterwards, ILC and other tripartite bodies were successively converted into formal bodies only. Many of its important decisions and recommendations were not given effect to in the Labour Policies adopted by the Government.

Without any discussion in these bodies, today, the Government of India is taking one after another vital decisions, which are detrimental to the interest of the workers, the industries and the country as a whole. As a result of the opening-up of our market and import liberalisation a large number of industries from home based to giant, have either closed or becoming sick throwing millions of workers out of employment. As a result of sky rocketing price rise the purchasing power of the common people including the working class are falling rapidly. No doubt, the policies are favourable neither to employment generation nor to eradicate poverty. Under such a circumstances, industrial sickness, unemployment, deterioration of the standards of living, social securities, workers' right etc, are the important issues to be settled.

But none of the issues were discussed in any of the tripartite bodies. The Standing Labour Committee, after a long gap of about one and half year, met for a day only on 6th February 1999 in its 35th session. But none of those vital issues, which the country is facing, were in the agenda.

It is apprehended that a bill amending the existing labour laws might be placed before the parliament, which is going to be opened on 22nd of this month. It is also apprehended that the bill might change certain provisions of the existing laws, which may take away certain protection of the workers from the Government both Central and States and left them totally at the mercy of the employers. The BJP Government did not think it necessary to discuss the draft bill in the SLC or ILC.

The issues were raised in the meeting, but, the Union Labour Minister, who is the Chairman of this Committee, remained silent about those. After one and half year the meeting of SLC did not discuss and decide on the solution of those issues and concluded only deciding the agenda of the next Indian Labour Conference going to be held on 9-10th April, 1999.

This is how the BJP-led Government is paying respect to the democratic norms. In fact they have lost the power to think for the country and the people. Their brain can only receive instruction from the IMF, World Bank and WTO and implement that. That is why they do not hesitate to destroy the democratic institutions, which are essential for self-reliant development of the country.