Lucknow University Moot Court Association organised National Seminar on Social Security Laws of workers

By Prem Kumar Sep 29, 2024, 08:33 IST

Lucknow desk (R L Pandey)।The Lucknow University Moot Court Association (LUMA) successfully organised a National Seminar on "Social Security Laws Related to Workers of Organized and Unorganised Sectors in India." The event brought together distinguished legal minds, students, and academicians to discuss the critical issues faced by workers in these sectors and to explore reforms that can better safeguard their social security rights.

The seminar opened with an inspiring address by Dr. Radheshyam Prasad, Faculty Coordinator of LUMA, who welcomed the guests and participants. He emphasised the relevance of social security laws in addressing the pressing concerns of workers across both organised and unorganised sectors in India, and the need for continuous discourse on the subject.

Prof. Banshidhar Singh, Head and Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow, followed with a keynote speech that underlined the importance of social security legislation in upholding the rights and dignity of workers. He highlighted how these laws not only serve to protect workers' welfare but also contribute to the nation’s economic and social development.

The seminar’s chief guest, Hon'ble Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan, Allahabad Highcourt, Lucknow Bench, provided a thought-provoking speech on the evolving nature of social security laws. Justice Chauhan shared a personal connection, stating, “I come here today not as a jurist but as a student, understanding that teachers are the torchbearers of society.” His collaborative efforts led to a government order promising a wage of ₹18,000 for Social Security workers.

Prof. S.C. Srivastava (Retd.), Kurukshetra University, gave a comprehensive overview of the five categories of social security workers and sixth being the workers in unorganised sector, shed light on the casual approach of the government towards the unorganised sector workers. He raised concerns over the minimum wage issues and highlighted discrepancies in existing social security legislation, particularly the lack of clear provisions for minority groups. Prof. Srivastava pointed out that the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the plight of unorganised workers, resulting in the creation of a national portal that now lists over 29.27 crore unorganised workers.

Further enriching the discussion, Prof. R.K. Murli from Banaras Hindu University delivered a thought-provoking lecture on the relationship between organised and unorganised sectors. He argued that rather than being opposed, the two sectors are complementary. He also emphasised the jurisprudential shift from job security to income security, raising important questions about how discrepancies in India's Labour Laws are influencing foreign investments, particularly from American firms.

The event also featured a panel discussion on "Social Security for Workers in the Organized and Unorganised Sectors," where experts debated the critical issues facing the Labour force and offered potential solutions to improve protections for workers. The discourse extended into the technical sessions where more than 44 research papers were presented by scholars, furthering academic exploration of social security laws.

The seminar concluded with a valedictory ceremony, leaving participants with new insights into the challenges and opportunities within social security law, and a renewed commitment to contribute to the betterment of the legal framework for workers across India.

This National Seminar was an important milestone for LUMA in its mission to foster legal education and advocacy on pressing social issues. It provided a platform for students, practitioners, and scholars to engage in meaningful discussions, helping shape the future of labour laws in India.