Ordinance bars Ordnance Factory Board employees strike against corporatisation
30 June, 2021: The Union government notified the Essential Defence Services Ordinance 2021 to prohibit employees of the Ordinance Factory Board (OFB) from going on strike. All major federations of civil defence employees had announced an indefinite strike from July 26 against the government’s decision to corporatise the Ordinance Factory Board into seven state-owned corporations.
Karnataka extends ESMA to prohibit roadways workers’ strike
27 June, 2021: The Karnataka government extended the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act (KESMA) through December 31, 2021 to prohibit workers of road transport corporations (RTC) from going on strike again this year. Roadways workers were on strike for 15 days in April despite KESMA being in effect; for this the government dismissed, suspended and arrested multiple workers.
ESIC notifies Rs. 1,800 monthly pension to families of those who died of COVID-19
23 June, 2021: Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) notified a pandemic relief scheme for families of employees covered under ESIC who died of COVID-19: The family pension will be equivalent to up to 90 per cent of the average wage of the deceased employee, subject to a minimum Rs. 1,800 per month.
Andhra announces compensation for kin of healthcare workers who died fighting COVID-19
14 June, 2021: The Andhra Pradesh government announced an ex-gratia compensation to the families of those healthcare workers who died while discharging their duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. It announced a compensation of Rs. 25 lakh for families of doctors, Rs. 20 lakh for those of staff nurses and Rs. 15 lakh to those of FSOs / MSOs. This would be in addition to the Prime Minister’s Garib Kalyan scheme paid by the central government.
Union labour ministry notifies draft employee’s compensation rules under Code on Social Security, 2020
15 June, 2021: The Union Ministry of Labour and employment notified the draft Employee’s Compensation rules under the Code on Social Security, 2020. They relate to provisions regarding the manner of application for claims or settlements, rate of interest for delayed payment of compensation, venue of proceedings and transfer of matters, notice and manner of transmitting money from one competent authority to another and arrangements with other countries for the transfer of money paid as compensation.
Punjab uses construction workers’ welfare fund to vaccinate them
9 June, 2021: The Punjab government withdrew Rs.. 7.5 crore from the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board fund in order to vaccinate construction workers in the 18-45 years age group. State government hospitals, however, provided free vaccination to shopkeepers, their employees and street hawkers in the same age group.
