Focus on labour reforms: PHD Chamber to Punjab

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 22

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry will submit a turnaround plan to achieve 11 per cent growth and create 2 million jobs by 2020 in Punjab to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh tomorrow.

After assuming power, the CM will hold first interactive session with industrialists tomorrow.

To attract investment, Punjab needs to reform labour laws, introduce robust land acquisition policy and focus on reduced infrastructure costs, including low electricity tariff and logistics costs, said Gopal Jiwarajka, president, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

"The implementation of reforms will enhance labour productivity. Since land is a state subject, states should ensure adequate availability of land in terms of land banks at affordable rates," he said. 

At present, the overall cost of setting up a business is high in states. Thus, states should focus on reducing infrastructure and logistics costs to reduce the transactional cost faced by industries, Jiwarajka said.

He also favoured setting up of a vocational training centre in the radius of 25 km across states to generate employment opportunities.

Revistalisation of sectoral growth coupled with diversified economic base and conducive industrial environment with a special focus on the growth of MSMEs would go a long way to absorb large proportion of workforce and push growth, he added.