Income ceiling of cine workers to be raised

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 2. In the winter session of Parliament slated to begin on November 19, the Centre proposes to pass a legislation to raise the income ceiling of cine workers.

The proposed Bill, seeking to amend the Cine Workers Welfare Fund, 1981, was introduced in the last winter session and approved by the parliamentary standing committee.

The Union Labour Minister, Mr. Sharad Yadav, said here today the Government was according priority to social security for workers in the unorganised sector, which constituted 92 per cent of the workforce but was bereft of any benefits.

The proposed amendment, apart from raising the income ceiling, would also take care of the health benefits of cine workers who come under the organised sector. The amendment would empower the Ministry to notify the income eligibility ceiling through executive decision from time to time to enable a maximum number of cine workers derive benefit from the welfare fund.

At present, the income eligibility ceiling is Rs. 1,600 per month, which enables only 50 per cent of the 63,000 cine workers to get the benefits.

The welfare fund - operated by the Labour Ministry - is aimed at providing health care to cine workers and their families through dispensaries in Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

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Section  : National
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