Page 61 - Labor

ESIC scheme to give cash relief to insured persons during unemployment

Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Wednesday approved a new scheme which would pay cash relief to insured persons during the period of unemployment, the Labour Ministry said. The scheme, Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna, is a relief payable in cash directly to Bank Account iof insured person in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said. The scheme would benefit insured persons (IP) covered under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948. It has been formed considering the change in employment pattern and the current scenario of employment in India which has transformed from a long term employment to fixed short term engagement in the form of contract and temporary, the ministry said. The proposal scheme was approved Wednesday in the ESIC board meeting chaired by the labour minister. Detailed instructions including eligibility conditions, application format, etc. will be issued separately. The ESIC has also approved the ..

ESIC to provide cash benefit during job loss

Taking cognizance of lack of long-term jobs, the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Wednesday said it has rolled out a scheme to financially support those who lost their jobs even as it relaxed norms for its other benefits.

PM meets Anganwadi workers, says they play key role in child's development

A group of over 100 Anganwadi workers from across the country called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to thank him for increasing their honorarium and other incentives. According to a statement from the PMO, the prime minister emphasised on the importance of nutrition in a child's physical and cognitive development and the Anganwadi workers have a key role to play in a child's development. Referring to the ongoing 'Poshan Maah' (nutrition month), Modi said the momentum that has been built during this campaign should not slow down. Nutrition requires constant focus and development of good habits, which can be provided by Anganwadi workers, he said and exhorted them to ensure that the nutritional assistance being made available to beneficiaries is used judiciously. According to the statement, the prime minister encouraged healthy competition among Anganwadis as a motivation for better nutritional care and efforts among various workers. The Cabinet Committee on Economic ...

Cabinet approves increase in honorarium for Anganwadi and Asha workers

The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved an increase in the honorarium for Anganwadi and Asha workers which will become effective next month. Anganwadi workers receiving Rs 3,000 per month will now get Rs 4,500. Similarly, those at mini-Anganwadi centres receiving Rs 2,200 per month will now get Rs 3,500. The honorarium for Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,250 per month, the Cabinet said in a statement. Anganwadi workers and helpers using techniques such as common application software (ICDS-CAS) will get additional performance-based incentives ranging between Rs 250 and Rs 500, it said. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also given its approval to increase routine and recurring incentives under the National Health Mission for Asha workers from Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 per month, the statement said. The prime minister had announced the hike in monthly honorariums for Anganwadi and Asha workers on September ...

Anganwadi workers thank PM Modi for remuneration hike

Anganwadi workers from across the nation on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for approving the hike in remuneration and other incentives.Prime Minister Modi, while interacting with these workers, praised them for their key role while talking about the ongoing Poshan Maah (nutrition month) in view of the importance of nutrition in a child's physical and cognitive development.He said nutrition requires constant focus and development of good habits, which can be provided by Anganwadi workers, and encouraged healthy competition among Anganwadis, as motivation efforts among various Anganwadi workers.Around 27 lakh Anganwadi Workers/Anganwadi Helpers (AWWs/AWHs) all over the country at AWC/village level will be liable to avail benefits under the scheme, which received Cabinet approval earlier today.Effective next month, those receiving Rs 3,000 per month so far, would now receive Rs 4,500 per month. Similarly, those receiving Rs 2,200 per month would now get Rs .

NBCC, Construction Skill Development Council to train 20k youth in 6 mths

State-owned NBCC (India) Ltd has signed an agreement with Construction Skill Development Council to train 20,000 youth in the next six months to promote skill development. "Construction sector is the second largest industry in terms of manpower employment and the workforce requirement is around 4 million people per year to sustain the current growth rate. There is a requirement for continuous skill up gradation and certification," NBCC CMD Anoop Kumar Mittal said in a statement. Through the association, NBCC and Construction Skill Development Council of India will work towards empowering the youth with relevant skills in various construction trades to make them employable as part of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme. The Recognition of Prior Learning will benefit workers like masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc.

Electricity employees in Rajasthan protest for various demands

Employees of the electricity department Tuesday staged half-naked protest after talks over the issue a day earlier failed to yield positive outcomes on their demands of pay-related discrepancies and cashless mediclaim policy and other employee welfare schemes. Miffed over suspension of employees' union leaders Tuesday, agitated employees staged half-naked protests and threatened to go on hunger strike if their demands were not met. Authorities did not call for the meeting Tuesday and released suspension orders of employees' union leaders after which protesters threatened to go on mass hunger strike, a spokesperson for Rajasthan Vidyut Sanyukt Karamchari Ekta Manch said. Meanwhile, senior Congress Ashok Gehlot blamed Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for neglecting issues of employees in various departments. "The chief minister should address the plight of employees and resolve their issues instead of using public money in holding meetings with beneficiaries of government schemes," Gehlot

Delhi govt to organise more job fairs to give equal opportunities to everyone: Rai

The Delhi government will organise more job fairs to provide equal opportunities to every section of the society, Employment Minister Gopal Rai said Tuesday. In an official statement, the minister said around 23 reputed companies participated in the recently-concluded two-day job fair which began on September 13. It stated that about 1,500 job-seekers participated in the job fair, where 519 were shortlisted. "The Delhi government will organise more job fairs in near the future so that more and more youth could get ample job opportunities. "This is not just the job summit although it is a trust summit which will enhance trust between people, companies and government," the minister said in the statement. These kinds of job summits will be held more frequently at Employment Exchange, it stated. "This job summit has given hope and opportunity to the unemployed youth," it added.

WB to lend $74 mn for workforce training in Uttarakhand

India on Tuesday signed a $74 million loan agreement with the World Bank for the Uttarakhand Workforce Development Project.

India signs $74 mn loan pact with WB for Uttarakhand

India has signed a financing loan agreement with the World Bank for USD 74 million for Uttarakhand Workforce Development Project (UKWDP), a finance ministry statement said Tuesday. As per the statement, the project objective is to improve the quality and relevance of training at priority Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and to increase the number of labour-market-relevant workers through short term training in Uttrakhand. The project has three components -- improving the quality and relevance of ITI training; increasing the number of skilled workers certified under National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQE); and policy and institutional development and project management. "Twenty-five ITIs have been selected 13 located in District Centers and 12 ITIs that are well-linked to industries. Two out of four women's ITIs in the state will be included in the list," the ministry added. The project has a 5-year grace period, and a maturity of 17 years. The closing date for the project

5 sewage workers did not have personal protection equipment: Enquiry report

The five sewage workers who died recently while cleaning a sewer tank in west Delhi's Moti Nagar did not have personal protection equipment, a Delhi government enquiry report released Tuesday has found. According to the report filed by K R Verma, the Additional Labour Commissioner-II, all the five workers employed through the Unnati Engineering and Contractor Pvt. Ltd were covered under the Employee's State Insurance (ESI) and Employees' Provident Fund Scheme. The notices under the provisions of the Contract Labour Act, 1970 and Minimum Wages Act, 1948 have been issued to both the contractors -- DLF (which built the flats) and JLL, tasked with the maintenance of the septic tank -- as well as principal employer Unnati Engineering and Contractor Pvt. Ltd, the report said. "The deceased workers were allowed to enter the septic tank of the Sewage Treatment Plant without personal protection equipment," states the report. Also, notice under the Factories Act, 1948 and the rules framed ...

Strike by RSRTC employees enters second day

Over 4,500 buses were off the roads as the strike by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) staff over various demands, including implementation of seventh pay panel recommendations, entered the second day. Kishan Singh Rathore, the general secretary of Rajasthan roadways workers union, said the strike would continue till the demands were met. Nearly 95 per cent staff are on strike demanding implementation of seventh pay commission recommendations, lifting ban on recruitment for 8,000 vacant posts and replacing 1,000 buses that have run 8 lakh kilometers, he said. Rathore said that the government has not take any initiative to hold talks with a delegation of the employees union. Those who travel by buses faced hardship due to the strike. Approximately 10 lakh people travel in the buses. The roadways employees had on July 25 gone on three-day strike and resumed work after an agreement was reached with the government on July 27.

Indo-German collaboration in vocational education and training

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) in the area of vocational education and training. The MoU was signed in the presence of German ambassador Martin Ney. According to the MoU, students who complete specific training courses here in India will get a certificate that is recognised in India and facilitates its recognition in Germany and they will be able to apply for jobs in companies in India and much more easily for jobs in Germany. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had mooted the idea in May last year which was spelled out by the Joint Working Group of the two agreements in October last. Since then, the IGCC and the MSDE hammered out the details to prepare the MoU.

India, Germany sign skill development agreement

India and Germany on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on skill development, which will provide dual vocational training to Indian youth.

Families of Hyderabadi youth stranded in Malaysia cry for help

Hyderabad [India], Sept 17 (ANI): Families of five Hyderabadi youth stranded in Malaysia, and one woman stuck in Oman after being allegedly trafficked by agents, have sought help from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for their return.According to the family members, these youth were taken to Malaysia and Oman on the promise of good jobs after taking Rs 1 lakh each by the local agents but they are now stranded without salaries. Some are even facing violence, claimed their families.The families claimed they have already taken up the matter with concerned officers and lodged complaints with the government."My brother Md Taher was searching for a job when he was approached by an agent. He offered my brother a good job with a salary of Rs 45,000 per month in Malaysia and took one lakh from him. The agent sent Taher to Malaysia on 30 October 2017, on tourist visa on the promise that the visa will be extended after going to Malaysia. However, till now the visa has not been extended. ..

Anganwadi, ASHA workers to get free insurance cover soon, says Santosh Gangwar

Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said Monday that Anganwadi and ASHA workers would soon be getting free life and accident insurance under the PMJJY and PMSBY schemes. "We would provide free of cost insurance (under PMJJY and PMBSY) to these workers (Anganwadi and ASHA workers)," Gangwar said at a function to distribute Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP) and National Safety Awards (NSA). "The honorarium of 14 lakh Anganwadi workers have been increased from Rs 3,000 per month to Rs 4,500 per month. Likewise, honorarium of Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,250 per month. There are over 10 lakh ASHA workers." The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) provide life and accident insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh each, respectively. The annual insurance premium of the PMJJY is Rs 330 while it is Rs 12 for the PMSBY. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced over 50 per cent hike in honorarium of ...

Public policy makers need to come to grips with changing nature of jobs and their availability: Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Inaugurating the 11th Global Skills Summit, 2018, orgainsed by FICCI and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Mr. Pradhan said the belief that technology and innovation were squeezing the job space was a myth. While some jobs were being squeezed, a multi-fold increase was being witnessed in many other sectors due to technological innovation.

Machines to overtake humans in workplace by 2025: WEF

By 2025, more than half of all workplace tasks that exist today will be performed by machines, yet in terms of overall numbers, the robot revolution will create 58 million net new jobs in the next five years, says a study. According to a new research by the World Economic Forum (WEF), adoption of automation and robotics will bring a "seismic shift" in the way humans work alongside machines and algorithms. However, in terms of overall numbers of new jobs, the outlook is positive. The surveyed companies report that at present, 71 per cent of total current task hours are performed by humans, compared to 29 per cent by machines. By 2022, this average is expected to shift to 58 per cent task hours performed by humans, 42 per cent by machines. By 2025, machines will perform 52 per cent of the total task hours. "Despite bringing widespread disruption, the advent of machine, robots and algorithm could actually have a positive impact on human employment. Our projection, based on a survey of ...

Amazon investigates allegations that employees sold data, deleted reviews

Amazon is investigating claims that its employees sold internal sales data to sellers and deleted negative reviews.It was revealed that middlemen tracked down Amazon employees through social media and offered them cash to provide internal information or take down negative reviews.The employees allegedly offered internal data and other confidential information that can give an edge to independent merchants selling their products on Amazon.According to The Verge, it cost roughly USD 300 to take down a negative review with brokers demanding a five-review minimum per transaction. Amazon employees have also been asked to provide email addresses of customers who left negative reviews.The company has since then launched an investigation into the claims. It has also implemented systems to restrict and audit what the employees can access.

RSRTC employees on strike, over 4,500 buses remain off roads in Rajasthan

Over 4, 500 buses remained off the roads in Rajasthan Monday as state transport corporation employees went on a strike over various demands, including implementation of the seventh pay panel's recommendations. Unions have called for a one-day strike, but it can be extended, Rajasthan Roadways Workers' Union, general secretary, Kishan Singh Rathore, told PTI. "There are 4,716 buses with the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC). This includes nearly 1,000 buses that are on contract, and most of them are not operating. This one-day call may be extended," he said here. Rathore said the unions held a meeting with Transport Minister Yunus Khan Sunday, but it failed and the strike began at midnight. Our main demands are that our salary should be as per the 7th Pay Commission's recommendations, there must be new recruitment in the corporation and new buses be purchased, he said. Commuters across Rajasthan faced hardship due to the strike. Rathore claimed that about 10 lakh ...