Wednesday 12 December 2012

REASONS FOR ALLOWING FDI IN RETAIL SECTOR


REASONS FOR ALLOWING FDI IN RETAIL SECTOR

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) complements and supplements domestic investment. Domestic companies are benefited through FDI, by way of enhanced access to supplementary capital and state-of-the-art technologies; exposure to global managerial practices and opportunities of integration into global markets.

Government had instituted a study, on the subject of “Impact of Organized Retailing on the Unorganized Sector”, through the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), which was submitted to Government in 2008. The ICRIER study indicated significant benefits for various stakeholders, such as consumers, farmers and manufacturers, arising from the growth of organized retail. Based upon the study, as well as the experience of other countries, it is the Government’s assessment that implementation of the policy permitting FDI, up to 51%, in multi-brand retail trading, is likely to facilitate greater FDI inflows into front and back-end infrastructure; technologies and efficiencies to unlock the potential of the agricultural value chain; additional and quality employment; and global best practices. This, in turn, is expected to benefit consumers and farmers in the long run, in terms of quality and price. The 30% mandatory sourcing condition has been incorporated to encourage local value addition and manufacturing. The increased level of activity, in the front-end, as well as in the back-end, resulting from greater FDI inflows, is expected to create additional employment opportunities for rural and urban youth. It is, further, expected to encourage existing traders and retail outlets to upgrade and become more efficient, thereby providing better services to consumers and better remuneration to the producers from whom they source their products.

There is no procedure to shortlist companies. Foreign investors desirous of investing in retail trade (multi brand or single brand) in India are required to submit their applications in the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, where their applications are examined to determine whether the proposed investment satisfies the notified guidelines, before being considered by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, in the Ministry of Finance, for Government approval.

As per some news items published on 17.11.2012, Wal-Mart, USA, is stated to be inquiring into allegations of potential violations, under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of USA, in certain countries where the company is operating.

India has stringent anti-corruption laws. Any corrupt practices are liable to be dealt appropriately under applicable laws.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. 

Source:- Ministry of Commerce & Industry 

With Regards
Prakash Verma

Wednesday 5 December 2012

FLEXIBILITY IN LABOUR LAWS


FLEXIBILITY IN LABOUR LAWS
The World Bank in its World Development Report, 2013: Jobs has suggested that India needs to focus on jobs and labour reforms. The report emphasizes the need to stay within the efficiency “plateau” of labour laws where labour policies are not too stringent and allow the creation of more wage employment, especially in cities and in activities connected to global markets. With the working population increasing by 7 million people each year in India, accelerating urban development and increasing labour flexibility are key to creating jobs in more productive activities, thus sustaining growth and reducing poverty. So, for India, the desirable actions to promote growth would include creating towns, reforming Labour Laws to allow flexibility and improving Governance in general and specifically in areas that impede entrepreneurship.

As regards the reaction of Government of India, it is stated that Ministry of Labour & Employment is mandated to create a work environment conducive to achieving a high rate of economic growth with due regard to protecting and safeguarding the interests of the working class in general and those constituting the vulnerable sections of the society in particular. Accordingly, the Ministry of Labour & Employment reviews/updates various Labour Laws from time to time which is a continuous process.

There is no evidence to show that the share of informal workers in the organized sector has gone up due to non-flexibility in Labour Laws. However, the Ministry reviews labour laws as a continuous process and makes amendments as and when considered necessary to help the workers and industry in the country.

The Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shri K. Suresh gave this information in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today whether the World Bank has commented that India needs to amend labour laws to provide flexibility to companies dealing with changes in demand pattern; the details of suggestions made by the World Bank in this regard along with the reaction of the Government thereto; whether due to non-flexibility in labour laws the share of informal workers in the organised sector has gone up; and if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to amend the Indian Contract Labour Act, 1970 and Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 to help the workers and industry in the country. 

Source:- Ministry of Labour & Employment 


With Regards
Prakash Verma
E. Id:- Prkverma@gmail.com