Friday, December 9 2005 20:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Calling for an end to the "tyranny of Inspector Raj", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the time has come to take stock of labour laws and put in place a more flexible and transparent regime of such laws which will contribute to increase in employment.

"The time has come for us to take stock of our labour laws and see how best we can in fact serve the interests of our working people, especially the vast mass of low-skilled, unemployed youth who are looking for jobs in the manufacturing sector," he said inaugurating the 40th session of the Indian Labour Conference here.

He said if the country's manufacturing base had to grow and if employment opportunities had to be created, "we must make our labour laws less rigid".

The Prime Minister said he was convinced that new employment opportunities could be created "without compromising on basic labour rights and welfare".

He said more investment would flow if the business of doing business in India was made less intimidating, less cumbersome and less bureaucratic.

"A more flexible and transparent regime of laws, including labour laws, will in fact contribute to increased employment," he said.

Singh said in most industries in China, a factory establishment was visited by a handful of inspectors, often not more than five, whereas in India a large-scale factory was visited by over 30 inspectors under various laws and rules and regulations. "This tyranny of the Inspector Raj must also end," he said.