New initiatives introduced for labour welfare: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir government has taken several steps for labour welfare in the state including enhancement of their daily wages.
"Welfare and prosperity of work force has been flagged as an important concern in the state's development policy and new initiatives have been introduced to provide necessary economic succour to labourers," Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said while interacting with a deputation of labourers at 'Awami Mulaqat' here.
About 1.5 lakh registered labourers are being provided financial assistance of about Rs 185 crore from the cess collected from various government agencies involved in construction of infrastructure in different sectors of development, the Chief Minister said.

Ex-gratia for labourers who die while working has been enhanced from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh besides increasing minimum wages of unskilled workers from Rs 110 to Rs 150, semi-skilled labourers from Rs 150 to Rs 175 and of skilled workers from Rs 200 to Rs 250, he said.
Registered workers' families are now entitled to a monthly pension of Rs 2,250 on 'death in harness', on the same pattern applicable to government employees, he added.