A six month special drive would be launched for free registration of labourers working in various industrial establishments in the State and they would be provided identity cards for ensuring their welfare. This was disclosed by Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries and Labour and Employment Minister while presiding over the review meeting of Labour and Employment Department here today. Shri Agnihotri said that the State Government had constituted a 'Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board' for ensuring welfare of workers working in unorganised sector. He said that a special drive would be launched for their registration so that they could get benefit of programmes launched for their welfare. He said that special camps and spot registration works should be undertaken by the department for maximum registration of the workers. He said that the department should also initiate effective steps to collect cess from upcoming units so as to make the Board viable.
Labour and Employment Minister said that the officers of the department should work with missionary zeal since they were directly related to welfare of under-privileged, weaker sections and unemployed youth of the State. He said that they should also ensure that the employers were complying with the minimum wage norms laid down by the State Government. He said that safety of workers should also be ensured and the industrial units should be motivated to adopt all possible safety measures for the workers. Shri Agnihotri said that the officers of the department should work in tandem with power projects, cement plants and other big industrial projects for ensuring effective implementation of labour laws for welfare of the workers. He said that one percent cess of the total cost of the project should be levied from the project and only thereafter NoC should be issued.
He directed the officers of the department to carry out surprise inspections of industrial establishments to ensure that working condition made available were congenial, safety norms were being adhered to and minimum wages were being ensured to the workers. Labour and Employment Minister said that all the Employment Exchanges would be computerised so that the job seekers could get themselves registered online. He said that the department has notified 21 services which would be delivered through State Services Delivery Gateway in order to provide information regarding registration and employment opportunities etc. at a click of a button. Agnihotri said that the department should regularly organise job fairs, campus interviews and vocational guidance at different parts of the State in order to facilitate the youth. Shri Hardeep Bawa, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board while detailing the activities being undertaken by the Board said that it would ensure skill development of children of the workers. He said that the Board would ensure welfare of working class and provide all possible help to the families of the workers at the time of distress.
Dr. P.C. Kapoor, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries said that many industrial units were engaged in deployment of workers on contract basis. Thus the department should ensure their welfare.Ms. Nandita, Director, Labour and Employment cum Labour Commissioner welcomed the Minister and detailed various activities of the department.