Page 29 - Labor
MISA detainees are not freedom fighters: Chhattisgarh CM
Justifying his government's decision to put pension for MISA detainees on hold, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said these people are "not freedom fighters.""MISA detainees are not freedom fighters that they should get pension," Baghel told media here.The state government on Tuesday ordered all Commissioners and District Collectors to put on hold disbursement of pension for MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) detainees from February onwards, and ordered their physical verification and a review of the process of disbursement of pension.MISA was used during the time of Emergency between 1975 and 1977. The MISA detainees, who had gone to jail during that time, used to get a monthly pension from the previous BJP government in the state.
Arunachal Pradesh approves hike in TLA grant, wages for staff
The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet Tuesday approved the grant of Tough Location Allowance (TLA) for regular employees as per the recommendation of 7th Central Pay Commission and also hike in wages of contingency employees. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Pema Khandu had announced the grant and hike as "new year gift". The hike is effective from this month, government spokesman Bamang Felix said in a statement here. Khandu had announced the grant of TLA for regular employees in two levels pay matrix level 9 and above Rs 5,300 and level 8 and below Rs 4,100. He had also announced enhancement of the minimum wages of skilled and unskilled contingency employees, casual workers and daily labourers employed under the state government establishments. The initial wages on appointment of the unskilled contingent employees, casual workers and daily labourers has been enhanced from Rs 8,000 per month to Rs 10,000 and from Rs 9,000 to Rs 11,000 per month for skilled contingent ...
Better jail than rail: Fernandes' slogan that led to Asia's biggest railway strike
"Better jail than rail" - the slogan coined by the then firebrand leader of the railwaymen's union, George Fernandes, had galvanised workers to one of the major railway strikes in Asia in 1974, following which Emergency was declared, recalled old timers. Fernandes, credited with introducing the productivity-linked bonuses, bump in salaries for railway workers during his tenure as All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) president from 1973 to 1976, used this slogan during meetings to enthuse workers into participating in the strike. "He was a firebrand leader. In the meetings, one of its favourite slogans was 'better jail than rail' - indicating that the government spent much more on the convicts in jail than railwaymen which really enthused workers. During his tenure as union leader he pushed for higher salaries for us at par with PSUs, allowances and need based minimum wages," recalled Shiva Gopal Mishra, general secretary of AIRF, who knew Fernandes from his student union days. "As
Cement Manufacturers' Assn reaches wage pact with unions
The Cement Manufacturers' Association has reached a wage pact with the federation of major trade unions, including INTUC and AITUC, on enhancing pay and other benefits for employees in the sector. India Cements Vice Chairman and Managing Director N Srinivasan headed the negotiations and the MoU was reached on January 21, 2019, a company release here said Tuesday. "The MOU will be converted into Memorandum of Settlement before the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi in due course," it said. The MoU, the eighth national level settlement, will be for four years from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2022. It provides for an increase of Rs 5,000 per month in the Gross Pay of employees, which will be paid in two instalments of Rs 2,500 each with effect from April 1, 2018 and April 1, 2020, it said. It also provides for enhanced Dearness Allowance, Service Weightage and other benefits, it said, adding arrears for 10 months will be paid in two instalments. A total of 21 ...
Pawar condoles demise of 'friend' George Fernandes
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday expressed grief over the demise of his friend George Fernandes and paid rich tributes to him, lauding his fiery oratory and his contributions as Union minister and trade union leader. In his message, Pawar hailed Fernandes for "strengthening and giving new direction" to the workers' (labour) movement. Former defence minister Fernandes, 88, died in New Delhi on Tuesday following a prolonged illness. Pawar recalled that Fernandes, who hailed from North Karnataka, came to Mumbai in 1949 and "became one of Mumbai's". "He dedicated himself to voice concerns of workers and to ensure justice for them. He built a strong organisation of BMC (civic body) workers. He also ably led the union of railway workers," Pawar noted. Describing Fernandes as a "good parliamentarian", Pawar praised him for leaving behind mark as an "effective administrator" while discharging duties as the country's defence and industries minister. "George was an excellent ...
AT&T to cut jobs in weaker business units
(Reuters) - AT&T Inc is cutting some jobs in declining areas of its business, while hiring more people in faster-growing segments, an AT&T spokesman said on Monday.
325 child labourers rescued under 'Operation Smile'
As many as 325 child labourers have been rescued as part of 'Operation Smile' in Hyderabad, Commissioner of Police Anjani Kumar said on Monday.Operation Smile was launched on January 1 this year to trace missing children. The month-long programme aims to rescue child labourers, children engaged in begging for alms and so on.Speaking to media, Kumar said: "In Hyderabad city, 17 teams were constituted. So far, 325 children have been rescued including 11 girls. Of these, 53 children have been admitted in rescue homes while 272 have been handed over to their parents. 7 of the rescued children were below the age of 10, 38 were 11-14 years old while 280 children were 14-18 years old."During the operation, Kumar said 14 cases were booked against various establishments for engaging child labourers. Also, a fine of Rs. 6,75,365 was imposed on establishments for various violations. The rescued children were found working in different types of establishments and factories like those engaged in ..
Greece plans 11 pct minimum wage hike, unions, employers say not enough
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced on Monday plans to increase the standard minimum monthly wage by about 11 percent, the first such hike since the country's debt crisis erupted almost a decade ago.
HC asks striking teachers in TN to consider returning to work
: The Madras High Court Monday sought to know whether the striking teachers can return to work by Tuesday considering the plight of students who are set to face examinations soon. Justice N Kirubakaran, hearing a petition from a teacher challenging his suspension for taking part in the strike, posed several other questions to the counsel of associations spearheading the indefinite protest from January 22. The Joint Action Council of Teachers Organisations- Government Employees Organisations (JACTO-GEO) have been on the strike, pressing their nine-point charter of demands, including reverting to the old pension scheme and seeking salary arrears. Virtually disapproving the agitation by the teachers, the judge said they were not labourers, but they were in the noble profession of teaching. If the teachers indulge in agitations what will be fate of the future generations, he asked adding whether it was correct to strike work ahead of the annual examinations. Stating that ...
Over 300 child labourers rescued in Jan: Police
More than 300 children hailing from Telangana and different states and even Nepal, who were engaged to work as child labourers at various establishments in the city, have been rescued, police said Monday. A total of 325 children have been rescued including 11 girls as part of 'Operation Smile' launched on January 1 for tracing missing children, child labourers and children engaged in begging, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said. Among the rescued children, 53 children have been lodged in rescue homes while 272 have been handed over to their parents, the Commissioner told reporters. Seven of the rescued children were below 10 years, 38 between 11-14 years while 280 children were between 14-18 years. Seventeen teams were constituted for the operation and 14 cases booked against various establishments for engaging child labour. A fine of Rs 6,75,365 was imposed on establishments for various violations, he said. The rescued children were found working in different
Pakistan's policies failed to generate employment in Gilgit-Baltistan: Jafarullah Khan
Deputy Speaker of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, Jafarullah Khan hit out at Pakistan on Monday for its failed policies to generate employment for the youth of its occupied territory."We had a lot of hope but we don't seem to be getting anything from Pakistan. They have also weakened the Gilgit-Baltistan order 2018 by transferring the powers of the region to the Federal government of Pakistan. People are angry over this," Khan said during an interview."So we need to find ways to placate them. Employment could be provided to them. Skilled youth of this region could also be provided a quota amongst those who go out and serve in different countries. Then, they will not just be able to send remittances back to the country but will also be able to run their family," Khan added.Both skilled and unskilled people in Gilgit-Baltistan, the part of erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, are affected due to failed policies of Islamabad.People say that a dwindling economy, poverty ..
NHM employees stage rally in support of their demands in Jammu
Hundreds of striking National Health Mission (NHM) employees Monday took out a rally in Jammu in support of their various demands, including regularisation of their services. The employees who are on strike for the past fortnight assembled at the Exhibition ground here and later took out a rally, raising slogans against the governor administration for its alleged failure to address their issues, officials said. However, the policemen who were deployed in strength at Jewal Chowk stopped the rally and persuaded them to return. "We are on strike for the past two weeks but no one from the governor administration visited us to listen to our demands. We were forced to come on the roads to push for our demands, including regularisation of our services and equal pay for equal work," a woman protester said. She said they are going to intensify their protest in the coming days if their demands are not met. In nearby PHE headquarters at the B C Road, CP workers, ITI trained and need based ...
KKNPP launches skill development programme
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tirunelveli district, Monday launched a skill development training programme at nearby Radhapuram to encourage self-employment among locals and enhance their skills in various trades. Based on a detailed baseline survey, tailoring, electrician and welding trades have been identified as suitable for the skill development programme, a statement from KKNPP said. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed last year between KKNPP and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for this, it said. "In the first batch, about 63 people have registered so far to take part in the training programme..," it added. The free training will be offered to around 500 people within 16 km radius of KKNPP in a phased manner over a period of 18 months. A skill development training centre was unveiled Monday at Radhapuram, around 15 kms from the power plant, by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) Executive Director ...
Dismissed KSRTC empanelled employees protest in front of Kerala Legislative Assembly
Dismissed employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Monday protested in front of the Kerala Legislative Assembly Following a December 6 High Court order, 3861 empanelled KSRTC employees were terminated from service. The court also ordered giving the posts to rank holders of the state's Public Service Commission. The dismissed employees, said they were not given any prior notice before their services were terminated. They alleged that they had been working for over 10 years and the KSRTC was their only source of livelihood. They also said they could not apply for new jobs since many of them were older than the qualifying age.The protestors further said that the management and state government had not adequately represented their case in court Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala addressed the gathering of protestors in front of Kerala assembly. The opposition had staged a walkout in the Assembly on the issue today. Sindhu, who was dismissed from his job as
Firmenich India, One of Only 3 Indian Companies to be EDGE Certified for Workplace Gender Equality
/ -- Firmenich India, an affiliate of the world's largest privately-owned perfume and taste company, today announced it is the third company in India, and the first in its industry, to be certified as a gender equality employer with EDGE MOVE status. With this endorsement, Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE), the leading business certification standard for gender equality, is officially recognizing Firmenich India for its established gender equality framework and diverse and inclusive workforce. Globally, Firmenich is one of only seven companies worldwide to be globally certified as a gender equality employer, with India ranking the highest within the Firmenich Group, standing out for its inclusive culture and career advancement opportunities for all. "I am very proud that Firmenich India is one of only three companies in India to receive the second highest level of EDGE Certification for our commitment and progress in gender parity. With women representing 22% of our ...
UDF walkout in Ker Assembly over KSRTC mass termination
Opposition UDF staged a walk out in the Kerala Assembly Monday after heated exchanges with the ruling LDF over mass termination of 3,861 empanelled (temporary) bus conductors from state-owned KSRTC following a court order. The UDF members alleged that the CPI(M)-led LDF government had not objected in the high court to the removal of the temporary conductors of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and had violated all employment laws while terminating their services. These employees had toiled for the cash-strapped KSRTC for years on meagre daily wage of Rs 480, they said seeking to move an adjournment motion over the issue. Earlier, rejecting the UDF allegations, state Transport Minister A K Saseendran, however, said the government was forced to sack the empanelled conductors following a high court order. The court had passed the directive while considering the plea of the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC)-selected candidates waiting for appointment
Fed up of paper leaks, youths demand 'Pradhan Mantri CHEAT Fund Yojna'
Youths from across the country gathered here on Sunday to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch a Pradhan Mantri CHEAT Fund Yojna for job aspiring youths who cannot afford the high cost of buying a leaked paper.
25 per cent US jobs will be impacted by automation: Report
Automation is annexing our workplaces, and soon it is going to impact the job market, throwing human workers out of work. The latest study predicts that one-quarter of jobs in the US are at high risk of being automated.Automation happens when technology does the work that was earlier carried out by humans, to increase output and efficiency.According to New Brookings report, titled, Automation and Artificial Intelligence: How machines are affecting people and places, automation will have a sizeable impact by 2030 on the US employment. Some 25 per cent of jobs are predicted to have high exposure to automation.Some 36 per cent of US employment will experience medium exposure and 39 per cent will experience low exposure. Occupations not requiring a bachelor's degree are more susceptible to automation than those requiring four-year degree.The impact will vary based on industries, geographies, and demographic groups. Men, youth, and under-represented groups will be the most affected among ..
After skill training for better jobs, manual scavengers return to cleaning sewers in Delhi
Three months after the Delhi administration completed a first-of-its-kind skill development programme for 50 manual scavengers and provided them alternative means of livelihood, many have returned to cleaning sewers, citing lack of regular income and harassment at workplace. The initiative, aimed at eradicating manual scavenging and finding alternative employment for the participants, had come amid an intense debate on the deaths of workers while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in Delhi. In an early setback to the Shahdara district administration-led programme, a number of manual scavengers selected for the three-month training course, which started in August last year, withdrew within a week, according to those who completed the exercise. Of those who were provided skill development training, many left the jobs they were given due to non-payment of salaries and unwillingness to travel. Those who could not be placed immediately returned to the hazardous work to keep their households .
Trump's golf resort fires undocumented workers
About a dozen staffers were fired from a golf course resort in New York owned by US President Donald Trump because they were undocumented immigrants, The Washington Post said in a report.