The minister pointed out that about 90 per cent of women workers continue to be in the non-working category or in the unorganised sector denying them legal right which were available to their male counterparts, while laws do exist, their implementation so as to make them in tune with the needs of the 21st century and also make redressal of grievances speedier and easier.

He also suggested the formation of a support group comprising committed members who would take up the identified issues on an urgent footing. Government, NGOs, and media corporate sector has critical roles to play in this segment. ``The mediain this context can play a more proactive role and take on a more gender sensitive stand,'' the minister of state for labour said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ruth Manorama, secretary (organising), National Centre for Labour said that the suffering of women workers in the unorganised sector could only be mitigated through organised unions. In fact she said that there should be state funding for organising workers. The ILO should institute an award for the best column on labour to encourage more journalists to take this issue seriously.

She suggested that the media should also reprioritise its coverage taking a more proactive stand on labour issues and linking policy to ground realities.