The Hindu : Front Page : Abkari Act will be strengthened: Gurudasan

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Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009
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Abkari Act will be strengthened: Gurudasan

Special Correspondent

P.K. Gurudasan says steps will be taken for strict enforcement of labour laws.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government will soon bring amendments to the Abkari Act to strengthen its provisions, Minister for Labour and Excise P.K. Gurudasan told the Assembly on Tuesday.

Replying to a debate on the demands for Excise and Labour, and Labour Welfare, the Minister said the provision would be incorporated to make criminal conspiracy an offence under the Act so as to book those behind smuggling of spirit and other liquor-related offences. The amendments were being proposed on the basis of the recommendations of the J. Lalithambika committee.

All officials of the department were being given in-service training. Pistols would be issued to excise officers.

Mr. Gurudasan said many new generation banks and information technology companies were breaking labour laws. So, steps would be taken to enforce labour laws strictly. The Labour Department would be expanded and restructured to improve enforcement. The problems of migrant workers would be discussed to find solutions.

He said that minimum wages had been made applicable to 82 industrial sectors, and they had been enforced in the case of 42 industries. Steps would be taken to enforce minimum wages in the remaining 40 sectors.

Noting that the State had won laurels in skill development, the Minister said a skill development mission would be formed with Chief Minister as chairman. New industrial training institutes had been established at 13 more places last year. This year, 10 more institutes would be set up. Talks would be held with managements of industrial training centres regarding staff salaries and admission norms.

He said a State institute of design for coir sector would be set up at Kundara this year. An institute of welding and research would be started as joint venture with Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore. Besides, the Construction Workers Welfare Fund would set up a facility for imparting training in modern construction technologies. The Employees State Insurance Scheme would be expanded to cover 10 lakh workers.

After the Minister’s reply, the House passed the demands for grants totalling Rs.250 crore.

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