Commodity Online
NEW DELHI: Millions of workers in plantation sector stands to gain as the Union Government on Friday approved amendments in the Indian Plantation Labour Act, 1951 to provide a mechanism for ensuring their safety and welfare.

According to Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technology, the Cabinet has given approval for introduction of the Plantations Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2008 in Parliament for making amendments in the Indian Plantation Labour Act, 1951.

The amendment proposes a variety of measures to provide mechanisms for safety, health and wealth for the about one million plantation workers (as per ILO estimates) in the country.

It is a known fact that working conditions of labourers in the plantations is pitiable. Therefore, the government has decided to set up a mechanism to provide for their safety and their health and their wealth of plantation labour, Sibal said..

The government could also amend the definition of family to remove the distinction between a female and a male worker.

Mr Sibal also said definition of worker would be amended by enhancing the wage ceiling from Rs 750 to Rs 10,000. Similarly the medical facilities to be provided to the workers and to their families would also be amended making it obligatory on the state government to provide medical facilities. The state in turn could recover the cost from the employers.

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