LAHORE:Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Saturday announced to fix the minimum wage of workers at Rs20,000.
In a statement on the eve of the World Labour Day, the Chief Minister said: “The welfare of the labourer and workers is the top priority of the government and Punjab is the only province that has given approval to fix the minimum wage at Rs 20,000.”
The PTI government, in the last three years, has increased five thousand rupees in the minimum wage of workers and will continue to increase the minimum wage of workers in future as well, he said.
Buzdar said that formers rulers paid no attention to the welfare of workers and did not take any step in providing relief to this indigent class. He mentioned that former rulers added only Rs3,000 in the minimum wage of the labourers in their last five years tenure. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the modern Online Labor Inspection system has been introduced after eliminating the outdated system.
A Self-Assessment Scheme has been launched for ensuring transparent and easy payment of Social Security Contributions. The free of cost emergency medical services in Social Security Hospitals has been ensured while Social Security Inspection has been limited to 20%.
Buzdar said that Marriage Grant for workers had been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh whereas Death Grant has also been increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. Online and transparent system had been introduced for awarding scholarships to the children of workers and labourers.
Chief Minister said that flats have been allotted to the labourers in the labour colonies of Lahore, Nankana Sahib and Multan. A transparent allotment of 992 flats has been made in Labour Housing Colony Multan. He said that apart from free education for thousands of children under the Punjab Workers Welfare Fund, Talent Scholarship, Marriage Grant and Death Grant of Rs 7.25 billion is an open proof of labour friendly policies of the incumbent government.
He was presiding over a meeting in connection with providing relief to the labours at the CM’s Office. The Labour Secretary briefed the meeting about the steps being taken for the welfare of the workers. Provincial Minister for Labour Ansar Majeed, Principal Secretary to the CM, Secretary Labour, Secretary Information and concerned officials were also present on this occasion.