Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Employment, Abdul Gani Malik today asked the officers of Labour Department to extend financial assistance to those construction workers on priority whose agencies deposit their cess regularly and without any delay with Jammu and Kashmir Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (JKBOCWWB).
The Minister was addressing a meeting of the Board of Directors of JKBOCWWB here today, convened to review the pace of progress of cess collection and its judicious expenditure for the welfare of construction workers..
The meeting was attended by Commissioner/ Secretary Yedullah, Labour Commissioner, Shahid Anayatullah, CEO/Secretary, JKBOCWWB, Syed Muried Hussain Director Codes, M. Ishaq, Special Secretary, Irshad Ahmed , MD, JK cements , R.K. Razdan, , Administrative officer, Farooq A. Shah , and other members of the Board.
Stressing for enforcement of labour laws strictly, Mr. Malik desired to have maximum realization of revenue under various Acts. However, he said that the State Govt. is forcefully projecting before the Central Government the need to take effective steps for rationalization of various labor laws by reducing the number of legislations so that the burden of filing statutory returns and conduct of frequent inspections is considerably reduced , adding that this will not only avoid exploitation by vested interests but will also simplify enforcement and enhance its stringent application for the benefit of the labour class leading to faster development and industrial growth.
The meeting was informed that the ambit of coverage of non -factory establishments under Employees State Insurance Scheme has been increased by reducing the minimum threshold limit of employees from 20 to 10, satisfying pending demand of the working class of the state.
Coverage of laborers in unorganized sector has also increased under the Building and Other Construction Workers Act. The Cess collection has gone up to Rs. 10107.79 lacs including the interest. An amount of Rs. 2,55,75,100 has been disbursed among 3600 beneficiaries under different welfare schemes by the respective Acts of the state.
The board accorded approval to the sanction of ex-gratia in favour of the dependent of late Saif-ud- Din of Doda who died on October 20, 2011.
Besides, Board decided to refer matter of creation of staff, housing loan scheme for construction workers to Standing Committee for approval.
The Board passed budget provision for 2012-13 and approved getting the stationery printed from private Printing Press on competitive rates by floating the tender.
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