100 bedded ESIC hospital to be set up in Sriperumbudur, TN: Labour Minister

New Delhi, Feb 16 (KNN) Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment (IC), during his visit to the Parliamentary Constituency of Sriperumbudur on Monday, reviewed the performance of the offices under the Ministry of Labour & Employment and announced setting up of a 100 bedded ESIC Hospital there.

He also announced upgradation of 7 ESIC Dispensaries at Dindigul, Ranipet, Ambur, Tambaram, Kovilpatti, Rajapalayam, Virudhanagar into 30 bedded ESIC Hospitals. 

In response to queries regarding retrenchment of workers due to closure and liquidation of companies, Dattatreya stated that his Government’s main interest is to protect the rights of the workers and the recent reform agenda is a testimony of the Government’s intent of upholding workers’ rights.

On Child Labour, he informed that Child Labour Act is being amended to protect the Child’s right to education by bringing a blanket ban on employment of children in industry upto the age of 14 years and in hazardous industry upto the age of 18 years, with stringent penal provisions for violations.

Dattatreya said that for further simplification and rationalization, 44 Central Labour Laws are being amalgamated into 4 Labour Codes i.e., Code on Wages, Code on Industrial Relations, Code on Social Security and Code on Safety & Working Conditions.

He said that the Modi New Govt., led by principle of transperancy and accountability, has initiated various technology driven initiatives in Employees Provident Fund Organization, Employees State Insurance Corporation and Labour Welfare. 

He informed that in Tamil Nadu alone the EPFO is settling 93% claims within 20 days and 2.23 crore annual accounts have been updated on 1st April 2015.  He also lauded the efforts in issue of Universal Account Number (UAN) numbering 70 Lakhs and redressal of 98.7% grievances, in the state. (With PIB Inputs)