Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment Bandaru Dattatraya today said the recent decisions taken by the cabinet under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will benefit the country.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said that the approval for a special package for employment generation and promotion of exports in Textile and Apparel sector will be for the generation of one crore jobs in the textile and apparel industry over next 3 years.
The package includes a slew of measures which are labour friendly and would promote employment generation, economies of scale and boost exports.
The majority of new jobs are likely to go to women since the garment industry employs nearly 70% women workforce. Thus, the package would help in social transformation through women empowerment.
The Minister requested the state government to send the proposals to benefit out of these decisions. Places like Warangal, Pochampalli, Narayanpet and Gadwal can be developed under the new initiatives, he said.
As for the Employee Provident Fund Scheme Reforms concerned the Government of India shall bear the entire 12% of the employers’ contribution of the Employers Provident Fund Scheme for new employees of garment industry for first 3 years who are earning less than Rs. 15,000 per month.
The Minister said that decision on the EPFO stock investment will be taken in the forthcoming meeting of the Central board of Trustees meeting on July 7. There will be no inoperative EPF accounts in the coming days. With the using of latest Technology, every PF account will be linked to UAN number and Aadhar, he said. The EPFO has settled all the pending cases as of now, he said.
At present, 8.33% of employer’s contribution is already being provided by Government under Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY). Increasing overtime caps overtime hours for workers not to exceed 8 hours per week in line with ILO norms. Shri Dattatraya said that this shall lead to increased earnings for the workers.
Speaking on the Startup-Stand Up scheme, Dattatraya said that around 18 lakh youth can get employment through this scheme. By involving the state lead bank, the Telangana state should utilise the opportunity for the benefit of SC, ST and Women entrepreneurs. The Minister also informed that Labour bureau will conduct Labour survey once in three months in seven core sectors to identify the employment scenario. (NSS)