Sis Ram Ola is to be the new Cabinet Minister for Labour and Employment, in the freshly constituted 14th Lok Sabha in the Indian Parliament. Elected from the Jhunjhunu constituency in Ardawata, District, Rajasthan. Sis Ram Ola is an Agriculturist, Defence Services, Political & Social Worker by profession.

 

Sis Ram Ola has held various positions of importance in his career. He has been member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1957-93, where he was Cabinet Minister, Rajasthan for ten years (incharge of Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Forest and Environment, Public Health, Engineering Department, Irrigation, Transport, Co-operatives, Excise, Under-ground Water and Soldier Welfare, etc.) From 1960-77 he was Zila Pramukh, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Between 1960-95 as Member of the Pradesh Congress Committee (P.C.C.), Rajasthan, he held various positions like Member, Executive Committee, (P.C.C), Chairman, Kisan Cell, (P.C.C), Treasurer, (P.C.C) He was also Member, Pradesh Congress Election Committee and Member Executive, Congress Legislative Party and Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

1972 onwards Sis Ram Ola was Member, All India Congress Committee (A.I.C.C) In 1996 he was elected to 11th Lok Sabha and became Union Minister of State, Chemicals and Fertilizers (Independent Charge), (1996-97), Union Minister of State, Water Resources (Independent Charge), (1997-98). In 1998 Sis Ram Ola was re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (2nd term) and became Member, Committee on Commerce and its Sub-Committee on Textiles, Member, Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament, Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Defence.

Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (3rd term) in 1999, Sis Ram Ola was Member, Committee on Petitions, Member, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme and Member, Committee on Food, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution.

Having thus traveled so far, being in the Union Council of Ministers is nothing new for this 77-year-old farmer from Rajasthan and he brings with him his previous experience of holding charge of portfolios like Chemicals and Fertilisers and Water Resources. He was also a minister in Rajasthan holding cabinet rank for 10 years.

Sis Ram Ola will be faced with two main tasks as he assumes office at the Centre. One regarding contract labour rule changes, amendments to the Industrial Disputes’ Act and the report of the Second Labour Commission proposing simpler hiring and firing norms, if the government intends to allow contract labour in new areas. The other main task would be reworking the interest rates for Employees’ Provident Fund, which at present is at 9.5 per cent. "We will work as per a Common Minimum Programme," he said when asked about interference from the Left parties in the functioning of his department

The Central Trade Unions are expected to finalise the workers’ charter by tomorrow and meet the Prime Minister and labour Minister Sis Ram Ola. The Charter would include demand of provident fund interest at 12 per cent, amendments to bonus and Payment of Wages Act, winding up of the divestment ministry, labour law reforms and steps to be taken in view of the Supreme Court's observation on the right to strike. Besides asking for special packages for tea, textiles and jute industry workers and a comprehensive law for agriculture workers in the country.