FICCI against pvt sector job quota

Raising its pitch against the UPA government's move to reserve jobs in the private sector, industry body FICCI on Thursday said it was no solution to unemployment in a market-driven economy and offered its services in imparting skills for generating entrepreneurship.

"We are certainly opposed to it. Job reservations cannot be a solution (to unemployment) in a market-driven economy," FICCI president Onkar Kanwar told PTI shortly after assuming office.

Instead, he favoured raising skills where the industry could emerge as a partner. "We should make available all resources for improving their skills but not give reservation as it would be against the principles of business", he said.

He suggested measures like soft loans for encouraging entrepreneurship in the country and opening up of sectors such as branded retail which would provide mass employment.

Kanwar said industry could partner with government in the Indian Technical Institutes in upgrading technical skills. The apex chamber was in consultation with the government on the matter, he added.

The social justice and empowerment ministry has so far written 218 letters to the industry chambers and individual business houses to bring about a consensus on its proposal.

The job reservation is a part of the National Common Minimum Programme of the UPA government.