Page 3 - Labor

J-K: Specially designed scooters distributed to physically challenged in Doda

Specially designed scooters were provided to ten physically challenged people by the Social Welfare Department of Doda district on Sunday.Deputy Commissioner (Doda), Sagar D Doifode told ANI, "Ten divyangs received scooters. They used to travel 2-3 kilometres daily either on foot or by wheelchair. Now, they can reach their places of employment comfortably. Our department will give priority to divyangs."The beneficiaries said the scooters will help them to reach their workplaces on time."This is a key step by the government. Every divyang should get these scooters," Niyaz Ahmed, a beneficiary, said.Another beneficiary Gulam Hussain Kashmire said, "I have a private job. This will help me as I will be able to save time.

Five minors rescued from bonded labour in Assam

In a special drive carried out in municipal and rural areas, five minor children were rescued from bonded labour in Assam's Hailakandi district on Sunday. The child labourers, who were rescued by a joint team consisting of the Labour Department, DCPO, CWC, Child Line and police personnel, were engaged in various establishments, an official release said. The police has registered cases against the offenders for engaging minor children in establishments. "Stringent action will be initiated against the offenders under the the provisions of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act) and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act," a senior police officer said.

'No Parle factory employs people under 18 years'

Under fire for allegedly employing children at a unit in Raipur, biscuit maker Parle-G Sunday said the Chhattisgarh facility, from where the minors were rescued, was operated by a third-party contractor. Makers of the popular biscuit brand are investigating the matter and assured "concrete action", a day after a storm erupted against the company for allegedly employing child labourers. "The factory, in this case, is not owned or run by Parle Products and is operated by a third-party, sub-contractor," a company spokesperson said in a statement, adding it is "concerned" by the allegations. Claiming that none of Parle's factories or operations employ people below 18 years of age, the statement said the matter is being investigated at present, and assured "concrete action to address the situation". Acting on a specific tip-off, a government task force on child labour raided a facility in Raipur Friday and rescued 26 children from the plant which manufactured Parle G ...

"India has wage problem, not job problem: Mohandas Pai

Former Infosys CFO and multi-sector investor T V Mohandas Pai has said India does not face a job problem, but one of wages, as a lot of low paid jobs being created do not find favour with degree holders. "India is not producing good jobs, but creating a lot of Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 low-paid jobs which are not fancied by degree holders. India has a wage problem, not a job problem," he told PTI. Also, India has regional and geographical problems, Pai said. Pai suggested that India adopt the Chinese model of opening up labour-intensive industries and building infrastructure near coasts, besides investing heavily in hitech R&D to meet the aspirations of job-seekers. "We should look at what China has done. They first opened up the labour intensive industry - invited the rest of the world to come and use its labour and started an export industry. We have not incentivised labour intensive industries. We don't have proper policies, so we cannot use our surplus labour," he ...

Over 1000% increase in registered child care institutions in India since 2015

Despite an increase in the number of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in the country, it is found that they do not provide the type of nurturing and stimulating environment needed for normal growth and the healthy psychological development to children, a report said.

TUs seek national fund for unorganised workers

Introduction of a comprehensive unemployment insurance scheme, creation of a 'National Fund' for unorganised workers to provide social security and strict enforcement of Minimum Wages Act were among the key sugegstions given by the various trade unions to the Finance Ministry on Saturday.

26 child labourers rescued from Parle-G biscuit factory

The District Task Force (DTF) has rescued 26 children from a biscuit manufacturing unit of popular brand Parle-G, who were working there as child labourers, an official said here on Saturday.

26 child labourers rescued from Parle-G plant in Chhattisgarh

Twenty-six child labourers were rescued from the plant of popular biscuit brand Parle-G here, police said Saturday. A government task force on child labour had received a tip-off that minors were employed at Parle-G factory in Amasivni area, said Vidhansabha Police Station House Officer (SHO) Ashwani Rathore. The task force raided the factory Friday evening and rescued 26 children, he said. They were sent to juvenile shelter home, he added. Based on a complaint filed by the Women and Child Development Department officials, a case was registered against the factory owner under the Juvenile Justice Act, the SHO said. Preliminary probe suggested that the rescued minors were aged between 13 to 17 years, he added. District Child Protection Officer Navneet Swarnkar told PTI that a district task force was constituted to conduct a drive to mark World Day Against Child Labour on June 12. "As part of the campaign, a total of 51 child labourers were rescued in the last six days in ..

MoS Finance holds pre-Budget consultation trade unions

Representatives from various trade unions and labour organisations on Saturday called for alignment of skill development initiatives with aspirations of rural youth with a focus on agriculture.In pre-Budget consultations with Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur, they also called for strict enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act and introduction of a comprehensive unemployment insurance scheme.Discussions were held on providing social security to labour besides skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling of the existing labour force. The quality of job creation and ensuring minimum wages of workers were also discussed in detail besides the issue of rehabilitation of workers who have lost their jobs.Along with Thakur, the meeting was also attended by Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Expenditure Secretary Girish Chandra Murmu, CBDT Chairman Pramod Chandra Mody, CBIC Chairman P K Das, Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian, Additional Secretary at the Ministry

US auto workers at VW plant reject bid to unionize

The United Auto Workers union has suffered a fresh defeat at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee, with workers narrowly voting down a move to organize the factory for a second time. The UAW has never managed to fully organize a US plant owned by a foreign manufacturer and a win at the German carmaker's Chattanooga facility would have been a significant victory. But the 1,700-strong workforce at the factory rejected the move by a margin of 833-776 in a ballot that concluded Friday. The organising effort was attacked by state Republicans and hampered by an ongoing federal corruption probe, with a former vice president of the auto union soon to be sentenced after pleading guilty to misappropriating funds. "Pending certification of the results by the National Labor Relations Board and a legal review of the election, Volkswagen will respect the decision of the majority," said the carmaker's Chattanooga plant chief Frank Fischer. "We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with elected

Tennessee Volkswagen plant rejects unionization

Workers at Volkswagen's plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted Friday night against forming a factory-wide union, handing a setback to the United Auto Workers' efforts to gain a foothold among foreign auto facilities in the South. The vote of hourly workers began Wednesday and concluded Friday. Preliminary results show 833 employees voted against representation and 776 voted for it, the German automaker said in a statement. VW said about 93% of the roughly 1,700 eligible employees voted. "Our employees have spoken," Frank Fischer, president and CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga, said in the company statement. He said results are pending certification by the National Labor Relations Board and legal review. Fischer said the company looks forward to "continuing our close cooperation with elected officials and business leaders in Tennessee." Volkswagen has union representation at all of its other major plants worldwide. A win in Chattanooga would have offered the United Auto Workers its first

26 children rescued from biscuit factory in Raipur

Twenty-six children were rescued from a biscuit factory by Child Protection officials in Saddu area of Raipur in Chhattisgarh on Friday.The children were sent to their homes after being freed by the District Child Protection authorities. They were rescued as part of a drive being carried out by the officials.District Child Protection Officer N Swarnkar said, "We will do their counselling on Saturday and take action against the factory management."Twenty-four children more were earlier rescued by the officials during the drive which started on June 10 and will last till Saturday, he said.As per the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 which was amended in 2016, a "Child" is defined as a person below the age of 15. Employment of a Child is prohibited in any field including domestic help. It is a cognizable criminal offence to employ a Child for any work.

Naveen, Dharmendra discuss employment generation in Odisha

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday discussed ways to work together for economic progress and employment generation in the state.

Private operators' plan for aircraft security hits air pocket

The plan of private airport operators to hire staff from the grounded Jet Airways for security-related work has hit an air pocket with the Civil Aviation Ministry mulling the issue of a clarification to its March 2019 notification that reserves these functions only for airlines.

IT companies in Chennai face water crisis

Officials in the information technology sector in Chennai's Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) agree the water shortage situation in the business district is grim but say they are managing the issue for now.

AITUC criticises govt's decision to cut ESI contributions

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Friday said it strongly opposes the government's "unilateral decision" to cut contributions made by employers and employees towards the ESIC health insurance scheme. The AITUC demanded that instead of reducing the rate of contribution, more benefits should be planned under the health insurance scheme and inspections should be restored to ensure compliance. The government Thursday announced a cut in contributions made by employers and employees towards the health insurance scheme of Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) to 4 per cent from the existing 6.5 per cent, a move which would lead to an estimated annual saving of around Rs 5,000 crore for firms. "The AITUC strongly opposes the unilateral decision of the central government to reduce (ESI) scheme contributions," an AITUC statement said. It pointed out that Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has a tripartite standing committee and a board in which trade union ...

Remove govt staff operating 'side businesses': Goa minister

Goa Labour and Employment Minister Rohan Khaunte Friday said "at least 30 per cent" of government employees were operating private businesses and the administration should weed them out, and in the process create jobs for educated youth. He further said such government servants were lax in their official duties. "If a government servant has started a side business, then it is a good thing since he has created employment. However, he should resign from his government job," Khaunte said, adding that he would be writing to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to create a task force to identify such government staffers. He said Goa should replicate the policy at the Centre under which some officers were asked to take voluntary retirement. Khaunte said Goa's employment policy would be formulated soon and the consultation process for it has already begun.

Government reduces rate of ESI contribution from 6.5% to 4%

Benefit to 3.6 crore employees and 12.85 lakh employers

Doctors' strike: Kolkata Mayor's daughter 'ashamed' at Mamata's inaction

Kolkata Mayor and West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim's daughter, a doctor, has come up with strong criticism of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's handling of the onging doctors' strike and said medicos have the right to "peaceful protest" and "safety at work.

Government reduces rate of ESI contribution from 6.5% to 4%

The government has decided to reduce the rate of contribution under the ESI Act from 6.5 per cent to 4 per cent wth employers contribution being reduced from 4.75 to 3.25 per cent and that of employees from 1.75 to 0.75 per cent.