Union Minister of State for Labor and Employment Bandaru Dattatraya today warned that stringent action would be taken against the companies denying minimum wages to its workers and employees.
Participating in International May Day celebrations at Ravindra Bharathi here, Dattatraya warned of jail term to the companies and business establishments if they looted the workers of their wages. He expressed concern that despite many laws were enacted for protection of labour, the working class was still being deprived of their rights and benefits. The Centre, in coordination with the States, will take up right measures to ensure complete benefits to the workers across the nation, he said.
Dattatraya asked the trade unions to wage a combined struggle for the welfare of the working class. He also suggested to the companies and industries to recognize the workers and offer proper wages to make a better living instead of looting them. The Centre is coming up with many welfare schemes for the workers, who will get separate unique identity cards and claim their cash benefits online, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on workers’ welfare to give them more benefits in the near future through a separate web portal, he said. There is Rs 27,000 crore unclaimed funds with the EPFO and the Centre was seriously thinking of distributing the funds among the beneficiaries soon, Dattatraya declared. (NSS)