From rxpgnews.com
New welfare fund for Kerala's unorganised sector
By IANS,
Apr 9, 2007 - 4:56:40 PM
Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 - Nearly one million workers of Kerala's unorganised sector, including employees of shops, hospitals and fuel pumps, are to benefit from a new welfare fund being launched Wednesday, state Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan said here Monday.
Gurudasan said a bill to this effect, passed in the assembly last year, has become a law and is called the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Labour Welfare Fund.
'This welfare fund is basically meant for workers in the unorganised sector and includes employees working in shops, hospitals, medical stores, fuel pumps, meat stalls, hotels, telephone booths and those working in similar establishments,' the minister said.
All employees aged between 18 and 50 years are eligible for the fund and the contribution details include Rs.20 every month from both the employees and employers.
The state government would contribute 25 percent of the employees' share as a guarantee. The scheme is also open for self-employed people.
'The benefits include a pension from age 60 onwards for all those who have contributed a minimum term of 10 years. Those who have contributed for a minimum 15 years would be eligible for family pension after the employee's death. And women going on maternity leave will get maternity benefits till they return to work,' said Gurudasan.
'We have constituted a working group comprising all stakeholders who would look after the fund once it is launched by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan,' he added.
There are similar welfare schemes currently for those working in the coir, cashew, construction, fisheries and toddy industries.
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