Chandigarh , February 14, Haryana Minister of State for Labour and Employment , Pandit Shiv Charan Lal Sharma has stated that recently domestic servants have been included in the list of scheduled employments in Haryana. The total number of employments in this list is 48. A decision has also been taken to include ‘safai karamcharis’ in this category and they will be paid Rs. 500 in addition to the minimum wage.
This was stated by him at the 44th Bhartiya Labour Conference held in New Delhi today. The Conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and presided over by Union Labour and Employment Minister Mr Mallikarjun Kharge. Labour Ministers from different States, besides the members of the Labour Boards and Senior officers were also present in the Conference.
Pandit Shiv Charan Lal Sharma said that Haryana is among the leading States giving maximum wages to the industrial workers. A sum of Rs. 4644 per month is being given to the un-skilled workers in the State, which is higher than the minimum wage fixed at national level. The minimum wage has also been linked with consumer price index in the State and after every six months i.e. in January and July, revision of the minimum wage is considered. A decision has been taken to make the payment of wage through cheque, so that payment is ensured.
Labour Minister said that the minimum wages fixed at national level should be given legal status, so that all the scheduled employments are brought under it, as per the provision in the Convention No. 131 of International Labour Organisation.
Welcoming the provision of Employment Card for the workers, Mr Sharma said that this will give recognition to the workers and they will also be able to get the facilities available under different laws.Talking about the provision of fine on non-payment of minimum wages by some establishments, he suggested that the quantum of fine should be related to the number of workers and minimum fine should be Rs. 5,000/-
The Labour Minister said that the State Government has taken a number of steps to provide social security to the workers of organised as well as un-organised sectors. The families of workers are given Rs. 21,000
as ‘Kanyadaan’ on the occasion of marriage of their daughters. Widows/dependents of workers are given economic assistance of Rs. 50,000 and children are given scholarship of Rs. 12 thousand.
Pandit Shiv Charan Lal Sharma said that the National Health Insurance Scheme of the Government is an important scheme, under which BPL families of five members is provided free health insurance for the amount of Rs. 30,000. Haryana, he said, is not only the first State to implement this scheme in the very first year, but has also implemented the scheme in all the districts of the State, although it was to be implemented in a phased manner in five years. Besides implementing the Health Insurance Scheme, a sum of Rs. one lakh is also given for the treatment of diseases like cancer and TB. The Centre has commended the achievements of the Haryana Government at various platforms and State has been given commendation letters in 2009 and 2010 at national level.
Mr Sharma also informed that 5,34,110 BPL families have also been issued smart cards and claims worth Rs. 72.26 have been disposed. State Government is trying to give benefits of the scheme to the workers of unorganised sector also. A survey for street vendors has been got done so that their families may be given the benefits of National Health Insurance scheme.
The Labour Minister said that during the current financial year, a sum of Rs. 583.86 has been spent on 10280 workers. A scheme of providing free cycle to the industrial workers getting wages upto Rs. 5000 per month has also been started, so that they may be able to reach their work places in time. This has benefited about 8400 workers and a sum of Rs. 179.34 lakh has been spent on this scheme.
Mr Sharma said that the State Government has also been taken steps for the rehabilitation of the workers coming from other States in search of employment. ‘Rain baseras’ are being constructed in Faridabad and Reweari. A scheme has been started to construct sheds with public conveniences at Labour Chowks. Such sheds are being constructed in Yamunanagar, Faridabad, Hansi and Julana (Jind).
Mr Sharma said that to provide employment opportunities to women, State Government has permitted the IT and other related companies to employ the woman workers in night shifts on the condition that arrangements of fool-proof security is done for them during the work-hours and they are provided proper transport after the work.
Labour Minister said that a Bureau has been established to help skilled and un-skilled workers, technicians, IT professionals, engineers and doctors to gain usefull employment in other countries. So far, Bureau has helped 104 persons in this connection and about 4000 persons have been provided necessary consultancy about employment opportunities abroad.
The Conference discussed various important issues concerning minimum wages, social security and employment.