Interstate
Migrant Labour
(a) State/Regional level nodal officers
appointed for monitoring complaints from migrant labours
(b) A high level committee under the leadership of LC was
deputed to visit the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and
West Bengal to study and report the problems of migrant
labour of Kerala employed there. (A report is submitted
to the Government)
(c) Conscientisation camps were organised in various districts
during the year 1999.
(d) A booklet containing the legal rights of the migrant
workers and legal liabilities of the principal employers/contractors
was printed and supplied free of cost.
Implementation
of Minimum Wages Act
1.
More than 75 lakh workers are covered under the Act.
2. 69 employments are included in the schedule of the Act
3. Minimum Wages are fixed in 33 employments
4. 12 Employments are added to the Schedule during 1997-99
5. Special Squads for ensuring minimum wages.
6. Lowest level of minimum wages in many of the employments
are higher than in many other states.
7. Prevailing rates of wages in the employments like agriculture,
construction, timber, plywood industry etc. are twice or
thrice higher the notified under the minimum wages
8. In major employments like plantation, coir products industry
and cashew industry wages are initially settled in respective
IRCs and then notified under the Minimum Wages Act. So wages
are not an issue in these industries.
9. In traditional industries like coir (manufacturing),
match industry etc. the payment of minimum wages is a problem.
10. Due to cheap labour the industries like cashew, beedi,
match etc. are shifting to adjacent states.
11. Due to higher rates of wages prevailing in many employments
like construction, timber and plywood industries, hotels,
restaurants etc. in this state, large percentage of workers
migrate to this state. This reduces employment opportunities.
12. Inspectors are filing large number of claim petitions
for ensuring minimum wages to the employees.
13. More than 300 claim petitions were filed during 1999.
Kerala
Institute of Labour and Employment (KILE)
1.
An autonomous institute under the Labour department.
2. For imparting training programmes for the Departmental
officials, T.Us, workers etc.
3. Carries out research studies
4. An upgradation is under way.
Overseas
Development and Employment Promotion Consultants Ltd. (ODEPC)
1.
A company registered under the Companies Act 1956. Labour
Commissioner is its Managing Director.
2. Recruitment of eligible Indian candidates for foreign
employments
3. Runs a Travel Division.
Welfare
activities
1
12 statutory welfare fund boards for implementing various
welfare schemes including pension for the unorganised labour.
(Tripartite Boards)
The
12 Boards are the following:-
Kerala
Abkari Workers' Welfare Fund Board, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Agricultural Workers' Welfare Fund Board, Thrissur
Kerala Building & Other construction Workers' Welfare
Board,
Thiruvananthapuram.
Kerala
Cashew Worker's Relief & Welfare Fund Board, Kollam
Kerala Handloom Workers' Welfare Fund Board, Kannur
Kerala Headload Workers' Welfare Fund Board, Ernakulam
Kerala Labour Welfare Fund Board, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Motor Transport Workers' Welfare Fund Board, Kollam
Kerala Tailoring Workers' Welfare Fund Board Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Toddy Workers' welfare Fund Board, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Beedi & Cigar Workers Welfare Fund Board, Kozhikode
Kerala Bamboo, Kattuvally and Pandanus Leaf Workers' Welfare
Fund, Ernakulam.
2.
The following are the welfare measures attended to by these
Boards:-
(a) Pension
(b) Death benefits
(c) Educational scholarships
(d) Financial assistance/loan for housing
(e) Maternity benefit
(f) Medical benefits.
3. Other Welfare activities carried out in the State are:-
(a) Financial assistance to the workers of locked out factories
@ Rs. 500/- P.M
(b) Tree Climbers Welfare Scheme - for providing financial
assistance to the injured worker/dependents of the deceased
worker. The ex-gratia amount is RS 10,000/-
(c) Group Insurance Scheme for the landless agricultural
workers. In case of death of a landless peasant RS 2000/-
will be given to the heirs.
(d) The retrenched employees of a factory, whose dispute
is for adjudication in a tribunal, will get monthly financial
assistance for a limited period if the salary drawn from
the factory is below RS 500/-
