Economic Research Foundation (ERF) and International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs) are organising a seminar during the India Social Forum 2006 on 'Generating Decent Work in a Liberalised Framework: Policy Options for India'

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Exhibition Grounds, Hall No. M2

Date: 11th November, 2006

Time: 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm

Chair: C. P. Chandrasekhar

Speakers: Jeemol Unni, Jean Dreze, Ritu Dewan, Smita Gupta, Jayati Ghosh.

We request all of you to participate enthusiastically and exchange your ideas for better understanding of the issues facing India today in terms of employment generation which is both sustainable and inclusive. People from all backgrounds including students, ground level practitioners, policy makers, academics and people with general interest are welcome to join.

Theme:
With the advent of neo-liberal economic policies since mid-seventies the world economy has experienced a slowing down in the growth rate of output. Economists have attributed this phenomenon, inter-alia, primarily to the ascendancy of finance capital and the withdrawal of State. However in the contemporary epoch China and India seem to stand as exceptions to this trend. On the other hand in India the growth rate of organised employment has been slowing down and there are pressures from different quarters for greater flexibilities in the labour market. In the present conjuncture, the Indian economy is faced with the challenge of generating not only overall employment, but decent employment in terms of ensuring a sustainable level of income, decent working conditions, minimum wages, stipulated time of work, protection of worker's right at the place of work among others. Economists have increasingly consented that creating jobs with income security can be a major way of fighting poverty. This seminar will seek to answer some of these questions with policy implications and identify whether such objectives are in fundamental contradiction with the operation of a liberalised capitalist economy.

November 1, 2006.