Showing posts with label Min.of Labour and Employment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Min.of Labour and Employment. Show all posts

Achievements of the Ministry of Labour & Employment During 2013

Press Information Bureau
Government of India

Achievements of the Ministry of Labour & Employment During 2013

YEAR END REVIEW-LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
 
 
                 Following are the salient features of the initiatives taken by the Unnion Ministry of Labour & Employment during the year 2013:
 
Agenda for 45th Indian Labour Conference finalized:

Sis Ram Ola Inaugurates ESIC Model Hospital at Jaipur.

   Shri Sis Ram Ola, Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India today inaugurated the state-of-the-art ESIC Model Hospital at Jaipur. While inaugurating the Hospital, Shri Sis Ram Ola also informed the gathering that ESIC is also going to start its own Medical Colleges in Alwar (Rajasthan), Joka (West Bengal), Gulbarga (Karnataka) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). Shri Mange Lal Garsia, Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Govt. of Rajasthan presided over the function.

   The ESI Corporation is committed to work for the welfare of workers and improvement in their quality of life and for providing all possible social security to them. For providing the best Medical services to the Insured Persons and their families of Jaipur area, the ESI Corporation contemplated this 100 bedded ESIC Model Hospital at Jaipur. This Hospital will be upgraded 100 to 300 bedded in near future. At present, there are about 1203 Employers covering about 1.88 lakh Insured Persons and 7.29 lakh beneficiaries in Jaipur, who will get best medical facilities from this Model Hospital. This Hospital is a long cherished dream of workers of Jaipur area, which has come into reality now.

Data of Members under Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO)

   Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has date of birth details for more than 4 crore members out of a total members of 8.87 crore as on 01.08.2013. Web facility has been provided to the Employers to upload the date of birth details of all employees. Further, Field Offices of EPFO have been directed to ask Employers to upload these details.

   Providing Annual Statement of Accounts (Account Slips) to the members of EPF is already in place. Para 73(1) of the EPF Scheme 1952 lays down that a statement of account in respect of each member through his last employer to be sent after the close of each year.

   Besides, the following facilities have also been provided for the PF members to know their PF balance:

Min of Labour & Employment: Payment of Minimum Wages

   Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (M W Act) both the Central and State Governments are the appropriate Governments to fix and revise the minimum wages in the scheduled employments under their respective jurisdiction.

   Rates fixed in the Central sphere are applicable to establishments under Central Government/CPSUs in various States including Delhi. A copy of the Minimum rates of wages applicable in different scheduled employments under Central Sphere w.e.f.1.4.2013 is enclosed(Annexure-I).
 
   To compensate the effect of soaring prices, the concept of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) was introduced on the basis of recommendations of the Labour Ministers’ Conference held in 1988. Accordingly, VDA is revised periodically twice a year effective on April and October.
 
   Workers under various Delhi Government institutions/corporations fall under the jurisdiction of Labour Department, NCT of Delhi. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has not received any complaint for non-payment of minimum wages, insurance facilities, health facilities etc. in Delhi Government.

Enhancement in the rate of Fixed Medical Allowance from Rs. 1200/- to Rs. 2000/- p.m. w.e.f 01.03.2013, payable to the serving as well as retired employees of the EPFO for outdoor medical treatment - regarding.

Employees Provident Fund Organization
(Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India)

No, HRM-8/V/12/1/2003/FMA/Vol-117/6160

Dated 13 JUN 2013

To,
All Addl. Central P F. Commissioner (Zones)
Director (NATRSS)
All RPFCs-In-Charge of the Region/ZTIs
RPFC (ASD), Head Office
All Officer-in-charge of SROs

Sub:- Enhancement in the rate of Fixed Medical Allowance from Rs. 1200/- to Rs. 2000/- p.m. w.e.f 01.03.2013, payable to the serving as well as retired employees of the EPFO for outdoor medical treatment - regarding.

Sir,

   I am directed to convey the approval of the 76th Executive Committee, CBT, EPF held on 25.02.2013 and Hon'ble Labour & Employment Minister, Government of India for enhancement of the Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) for pensioners and employees of EPFO from Rs. 1200/- p.m. to Rs 2000/- p.m w.e.f. 1st March, 2013, subject to the following conditions :-

PF Cases Awaiting Settlement

   As on 13.12.2012 (for the period from 01.04.2012 to 13.12.2012), out of 107.16 Lakh claims received for settlement order, only 6.96 Lakh claims are pending for settlement.

   The obstacles faced in settlement of claims inter-alia include:

   (i) Incomplete claims (no bank account number,incomplete employee details, etc.)
   (ii) Incorrect claims (wrong account number, incorrect personal details, etc.)

Rise in Part-Time Work.

   The World Bank in its World Development Report 2013 has pointed out that part time and temporary wage employment are now major features of industrialised and developing countries and that in India, the number of temporary workers that employment agencies recruit grew more than 10 percent in 2009 and 18 percent in 2010. Part time work is also on rise in India with the share of informal workers in total employment in organized firms grew from 32 per cent in 2000 to 52 per cent in 2005 to 68 per cent in 2010. The propensity of firms to hire contract workers has increased over time for all firms employing 10 or more workers.

   The World Development Report 2013 has also pointed out that when workers move from low-to-high-productivity jobs, output increases and the economy becomes more efficient. Stringent regulations that obstruct such labour reallocation do not sit on the efficiency plateau and affect economic efficiency. Government has taken several steps to provide decent opportunities of livelihood to all those who seek employment.

Investment by EPFO in Equities

   The Employees Provident Fund Organisation is not considering investment in equities as funds earning 12 per cent annually in the National Pension System.

   As on 31.10.2012, the total of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) corpus invested in private sector is Rs. 26,896.54 Crore including Rs. 4.05 Crore investments in blue chip manufacturing companies.

   Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)ensure security of the capital contributed by the beneficiaries with risk free, consistent return on the same.

   This information was given by the Minister of State for Labour Shri K.Suresh in reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Amendment of Minimum Wages Act.

   As per the existing provisions of Minimum Wages Act, minimum wages are revised quinquennially in the Central Sphere. In order to protect the minimum wages against inflation, the Central Government introduced the idea of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) since 1989. The appropriate Governments are required to increase the minimum rates of wages from time to time by adding VDA, twice a year or annually, taking into account the rise in the Consumer Price Indices for the Industrial Workers. In the Central sphere, the minimum rates of wages are revised effective from 1stApril and 1st October every year.

Amendment in Provident Fund Rules – Notification issued by Ministry of Labour and Employment.

MINISTRY OF LAROUR AND EMPLOYMENT
NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 5th October, 2012.

     G.S.R. 744(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5, read with sub-section (1) of section of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (19 of 1952), the Central Government hereby makes the following Scheme further to amend the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952, namely: -

   1. (i) This Scheme may be called the Employees’ Provident Funds (Fourth Amendment) Scheme, 2012.

       (ii) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

   2. In the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952 (hereinafter, referred to as the principal Scheme), under paragraph 83 relating to special provisions in respect of International/Workers.

       (a) in paragraph 69 of the principal Scheme" as modified by para 6 of aforesaid paragraph 83, for sub-paragraph (4), the following sub-paragraph shall be substituted, namely: -

Revision of Minimum Wages for Labourers.


   The Minimum Wages Act was enacted primarily to safeguard the interests of the workers engaged in the unorganized sector. The Act provides for fixation and revision of minimum wages of the workers engaged in the scheduled employments. Under the Act, both central and State Governments are responsible, in respect of scheduled employments within their jurisdictions to fix and revise the minimum wages and enforce payment of minimum wages.

Training slots for trade Apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961.

Government of India (Bharat Sarkar)
Ministry of Railways (Rail Mantralaya)
(Railway Board)

RBE No. 85/2012
S.C. No.30 to MC.08

No.E(MPP)97/6/7/Vol.III.

New Delhi, dated 30.07.2012.

The General Managers,
All Indian Railways including Production Units

Sub: - Training slots for trade Apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961.

   Kindly refer Boards’ letter No.E(MPP)97/6/7 dated 15.04.2010 followed by letter of even number dated 19.09.2011 wherein it was requested to conduct resurvey/jt. Survey, as the case may be, in all the railway establishments who are coming under the purview of the Apprentices Act 1961, in keeping with the training facilities available with the units.

Payment of Provident Fund accumulation through Account Payee Cheque — Instructions regarding.

Employees Provident Fund Organisation
(Ministry of Labour & Employment. Govt. Of India)

No.: WSU/17(2)/2000

Dated: 15.06.2012.

To
All Regional P.F. Commissioners
In-charge of the ROs/SROs.

Subject: Payment of Provident Fund accumulation through Account Payee Cheque — Instructions regarding.

Sir,
   May kindly refer to the above subject. As per prevailing instructions, Provident Fund accumulations/withdrawal benefits are being credited only in the single bank account of the member.

   In order to rationalize and simplify the process of settlement and also to curb the return/rejection ratio of the received claims, it is decided that henceforth amount of Provident Fund accumulation/ withdrawal benefit may also be credited in the joint bank account of the member, if member opts for the same. However, this is to clarify that the joint bank account shall be acceptable for the purpose only in case when the bank account is maintained with his/her spouse.

   In view of above, it is directed that no claim should be returned/rejected due to the reason that member has preferred to claim his/her Provident Fund accumulations/withdrawal benefit in his/her joint saving bank account maintained with his/her spouse.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-
(Rajes Bansal)
Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer

Source:http://www.epfindia.com/Circulars/Y2012-13/WSU_7637.pdf

Non-Implementation of Equal Wages for Equal Work


   Government has enacted Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 which provides for payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for the same work or work of similar nature without any discrimination. The Occupational Labour Surveys conducted by Labour Bureau have revealed that none of the establishments surveyed violated the provisions of Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. The difference in the earning of male and female workers at the industry and occupational level is mainly due to seniority/length of service, difference in output etc. The difference in wages and earning at Stratum/All India level is due to inter-unit/inter-State difference in wage rates/earnings of men and women workers. Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 both the Central and State Governments are the appropriate Governments to fix and revise the minimum wages in the scheduled employments under their respective jurisdictions. There is no concept of National average wage under the provisions of Minimum Wages Act, 1948.

   However, there is a concept of National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) which was mooted on the basis of the recommendations of the National Commission on Rural Labour (NCRL) in 1991. The NFLMW has no statutory backing, the State Governments are persuaded to fix minimum wages such that in none of the scheduled employments, the minimum wage is less than the NFLMW. The NFLMW was fixed at Rs. 100 per day which was in effect from 1.11.2009 and has been raised to Rs. 115 per day with effect from 1.04.2011. However, as per survey conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) in 66th round during 2009-10 on average wage/salary earning per day per person for casual labour in public works other than MGNREG Public works is Rs. 93.11 for rural areas, for Casual Labour in MGNREG public works in rural sector it is Rs. 89.03 and for casual labour in other type of works it is Rs. 93.06 for rural and Rs. 121.83 for urban areas.

   To safeguard the interest of workers engaged in unorganized sector, Government has enacted The Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Plantation Labour Act, 1951, The Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, The Inter State Migrant Establishment Workmen (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, The Building and Other Construction Workers(Regulation of Employment and Condition of Service) Act, 1996 etc. for the welfare of unorganized Sector. Besides this, the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008 with a view to providing social security to unorganized workers. Further, the National Social Security Fund for unorganized sector workers has set up with initial allocation of Rs. 1,000 crore. This fund will support schemes for weavers, toddy tappers, rickshaw pullers, bidi workers etc. Under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), smart card based cashless health insurance cover of Rs. 30,000/- is provided to BPL families (a unit of five) in unorganized sector. The scheme has become operational from 01.04.2008 and is presently being implemented in 24 States/UTs. As on 30.04.2012, more than 2.94 crore smart cards have been issued. RSBY has now been extended to building and other construction workers, street vendors, beedi workers, domestic workers and MGNREGA beneficiaries who have worked for more than 15 days during the preceding financial year.

   This information was given by the Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Minimum Monthly Pension.


   The Pension Implementation Committee, a sub committee of the Central Board of Trustees, Employees’ Provident Fund [CBT (EPF)], has recommended that the minimum monthly pension under EPS, 1995 be increased to Rs. 1000/- per month as an interim measure. The issue was placed for consideration of the CBT(EPF) in its 198th meeting held on 22.02.2012 wherein the Board decided to defer the discussion.

   As on 31st March, 2011, the number of employees getting pension benefits from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation is 36,00,089.

   This information was given by Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply in reply to a written question whether there is a proposal to provide fixed minimum pension to all the employees who are covered under Employees` Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO); if so, the details thereof along with the minimum amount the Government is planning to give to the pensioners; whether the Government has decided to revise the existing scheme in view of the demands of the workers for a reasonable hike in their EPF pension; the time by which the enhanced pension is likely to be disbursed; and the number of employees who are getting pension benefits from the EPFO at present?

Source: PIB