Labour Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday hinted at changes in the labour laws to give more freedom and responsibility to enterprises.

He was addressing the 40th session of the Standing Labour Committee.

Rao assured workers that their rights and benefits would not be curtailed under any circumstances. He also said the government would set up a Central Unorganised Sector Workers' Welfare Board.

"We will have to adjust our social protection strategies to contemporary circumstances so that they respond better to changing economic structures which are inclined more towards informal sector," he said.

The minister said ways and means were being worked out to provide social protection to 370 million workers in the informal sector.

"We look for an economic growth that is more inclusive," Rao added.

Favouring cordial and harmonious labour-management relations, the minister stressed the need for effective and meaningful participation of workers in the decision-making process.

While assuming charge of his ministry yesterday, Rao said he would discuss the issue of interest rates on the Employees' Provident Fund. When asked about his views on raising the interest rate to 9.5 per cent from 8.5 per cent, he said the Left allies would be consulted on the issue.

Speaking at today's session on employment generation, Rao said various measures were being taken to sharpen the skill-base of the workforce. These include fine-tuning of existing vocational and industrial training courses and upgradation of 500 existing Industrial Training Institutions into centres of excellence in five years.