Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday promised reforms in labour, land acquisition and insurance laws and expressed readiness to look at privatisation of some loss-making public sector companies.
Asserting that the country needed to doggedly pursue the reforms agenda despite challenges, he maintained that reform is the art of possible but it cannot be just “one sensational idea”.
There could be hundred things which could be done but the focus would be on what can be done immediately as part of the reform process, he said kicking off the two-day India Economic Summit here organised by Geneva-based World Economic Forum.
He also noted that India was off the global radar for 2-3 years and the retrospective taxation was “one bad idea” that damaged the economy.
Referring to the need for labour reforms, Jaitley said: “Some aspects of the labour laws in India can certainly be improved and rationalised.
“This is an area where we will have to have a much larger consideration… Some people will certainly have reservation on this issue. Will I be able to immediately get it passed in Parliament? I am not in a position to comment,” he said, adding that the government needs to convince people that a flexible policy will create more jobs.
The government has already introduced some labour reforms in Parliament which will be discussed in the upcoming session.
On land acquisition laws, Jaitley said the government is looking at changing some “illogical provisions”.
“There are some illogical provisions (in Land Acquisition Act) like land cannot be used or acquired under this law for private hospitals and schools… There are some factors in it, which certainly require a re-look,” he said answering questions from the WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab.
On privatisation and opening up more sectors such as insurance to foreign investors, Jaitley said the last time Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA was in power, it followed a liberal model.
The Minister pointed out that the government’s decision to further open defence and railways to foreign investment is evoking interest from investors.
“If the initial experiment succeeds, we can open up a lot more,” the Minister said, adding the government was open to international participation in the infrastructure sector.
He expressed hope that the long-pending Insurance Amendment Bill, that seeks to raise FDI in the sector from existing 26 percent to 49 percent, will get Parliament nod in the upcoming Winter Session.
On disinvestment, Jaitley said, “This time, there will be divestment as some important public undertakings are on the verge of closure. But on foreign investment, decisions will be made sector-wise, keeping in mind the requirements of Indian economy and the appetite of the political system for reform.”
