New Delhi, Aug 10 (KNN) The Lower House has passed the Employees Compensation (Amendment) Act 2016 by voice vote paving a way for giving higher compensation to employees in the cases of industrial accidents.

The Bill provides for hefty penalty in case of violation by employers.

While replying to a debate on the Bill, Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said it raises compensation to Rs 50,000 to 1 lakh to employees and their dependants in the event of injury in industrial accidents including occupational diseases. Earlier this compensation was Rs 5,000.

Emphasising the NDA government is “pro-worker” and “pro-labour”, he said efforts have been made to speed up the pending labour cases in courts. As of June 2016, there were 17,289 such cases with every year witnessing an addition of 1320 cases, he added.

Highlighting “achievements” of the government, he said labour unions had called for a strike on September 2 but he addressed seven of their 10 demands.

Earlier several members from Left parties raised the issue of the government not giving time to trade unions to listen to their issues.

Dattatreya also said tbat the government has also increased the minimum pension from Rs 350 crore to Rs 1000 crore.He said the government has also launched a National Career Service Portal, in which 9 lakh people have registered. (KNN Bureau)