15 scheduled employments to be increased by 9 additional employments

Imphal, March 13, 2018 (DIPR):  The existing 15 (fifteen) scheduled employments will be increased with another 9 (nine) additional employments to the Schedule under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 rising the Scheduled Employment to 24 of the State said Labour Inspector Shri M. Bheigyachandra Singh. The fixation of minimum rates of wages will also be finalised soon, added the inspector.

While briefing the media, at the series of press conference organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) Shri K. Tikendra Singh said that under administration of Trade Unions Act 1926, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act 1976 and Industrial Disputes Act 1947, a total of 96 Trade Union were newly registered and working of 355 registered trade Unions were regulated by verifying their membership, annual account of income and expenditure and office bearers by the Labour Department.

The Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Scheme providing welfare benefits for the registered building workers is implemented by the Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board. The inspectors said that 1, 18, 332 building workers have registered as beneficiaries under the Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Scheme as on 31 January 2018.

The Scheme provides financial assistance to the registered labours in case of accident, payment of old age pension, loans/advances for construction of house, premium for group Insurance Schemes, financial assistance for education of children, medical expenses for treatment of major ailment, maternity benefits to the female registered building workers, annual financial assistance for the amount of premium/contribution payable by the registered building workers under Aam Admi Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Surakshya Bima Yojana, pradhan mantra jeevan jyoti bima yojana and atal pension yojana and skill development training of the registered building workers and their spouse, dependent sibling and children.

Rashtriya Swasthiya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is implemented in the state by Manipur RSBY Society with a target to extend the health care insurance benefit under RSBY to 1, 69, 252 unorganised worker belonging to BPL families in the rural areas and the Job Card workers under MGNREGA, Street Vendors, Domestic Workers as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India. The health care is provided by 8 (eight) empanelled hospitals.

The payment of wages and deduction from wages were regulated under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 in respect of the workers earning monthly wages not exceeding Rs. 10,000/-. The State Government of Manipur revised the minimum rates of wages from Rs. 122.10 per day to Rs. 225.00 per day for Unskilled labour, Rs. 129.90 per day to Rs. 248.00 per day for Semi – Skilled Labour and from Rs. 132.60 per day to Rs. 277.00 per day for the Skilled labour.

The discrimination of women in the matter of employment as well as wages on the ground of sex was totally prevented under the Enforcement of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. Child labour was checked by enforcing of child the Child Labour (Abolition & Regulation) Act, 1986 prohibiting employment of child below 14 years of age in 16 different occupations and 65 different processes.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 was also enforced to ensure the obligations of the employers under the Act to pay gratuity (bonus) to their respective eligible employees on the termination of employment after rendering continuous service for not less than five years on superannuation, resignation or retirement.

Joint Director, IPR, W. Phajatombi Devi and the Labour Inspectors H. Biren Singh was also present at the press conference.