Minimum wage revision will benefit 70 lakh workers: Dattatreya

New Delhi, Sep 16: The recent revision of minimum wages for the agri and non-agri sector workers would benefit 70 lakh people, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said today.

"For the first time, minimum wages have been simultaneously revised for agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. This will benefit 70 lakh workers," he said at the Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar and National Safety Awards function held here.

The Labour Ministry, quoting Dattaterya, added that the government has also revised the minimum wages for unskilled non-farm workers upwards by 42 per cent to Rs 350 per day.

"We have also increased bonus from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 or minimum wages whichever is higher. Eligibility ceiling for bonus has been raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 21,000.

This will benefit 65 lakh workers," the Minister said. Besides, the minimum pension has been fixed at Rs 1,000 in EPS-95 in perpetuity, which will benefit 20 lakh pensioners, Dattatreya added.

He was referring to Labour Ministry amending the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995, to provide the entitlement of minimum monthly pension of Rs 1,000 in perpetuity.

Congratulating the award winners, the Minister said that they should become leading lights in promotion of safety in their respective organisations for years to come.

"I would like to impress upon them that they should work with the same vigour, dedication and commitment as well as contribute in an exemplary manner to the overall industrial and economic development of India such that it clinches a significant space among the industrialised nations," he added.

Industrial peace and harmony can be achieved only when the goals of employment and employability are in tune with the targets of industrial development and growth, he said. Dattatreya said that his ministry is focusing on safety, health and welfare of the Indian workforce and will strive towards making India a better workplace for all.

"It is the need of the hour that industries develop and implement preventive safety and health culture in their organisations to ensure global standards in conformance with the National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at workplaces," he said.

PTI