Safety, Welfare of Workers Top Priority of State Government: CM Naidu

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has asserted that ensuring the safety at work and welfare of the workers is the mission of the state government.

Naidu conducted a review meeting on the Labour, industries, boilers and medical services departments at the Secretariat in the backdrop of some major industrial mishaps in recent times. “The rights of the workers should be protected but industries should not be harassed under illogical regulations,” he said.

Naidu asked the labour department officials not to compromise on the safety and security of workers. A third party audit should be conducted on the safety standards of factories.

Making it clear that ESI hospitals will be strengthened, the chief minister said the state’s share of funds for this purpose would be released soon. The Chandranna Bheema scheme in force before 2019 was totally invalidated by the YSRC government, he said.

“Not just the number of beneficiaries but the compensation amount was also reduced unduly. We will soon launch a scheme with an insurance amount of Rs.10 lakh per worker," he said.

Managements of factories should move forward with a perfect action plan on the safety of the workforce. Officials of the Labour Department should take stringent action against the management if an accident takes place in a company due to negligence, he said.

"Employment generation is possible only if more and more companies come up. Officials should act in a transparent way in giving permissions for new units," Naidu said.

Labour minister Vasamsetti Subash stated that the number of employees taking the ESI services has increased from five lakh to 11 lakh between 2014 and19, but the number has come down thereafter. “Though there are clear guidelines that a senior doctor should be the superintendent of every ESI hospital, this was not being followed," he said.

He said irregularities took place in the YSR Bheema scheme.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that the state's share of Rs.54 crore to the ESI hospitals was pending. Naidu said this would be released soon. The labour welfare board, minimum wages board, building and other construction workers boards should be reactivated, he said.

“Formulate a scheme to ensure that the insurance facility is made available not only to the workforce in the organised sector but also to the employment guarantee scheme workers, farm labourers and other sections. The accident insurance scheme will be implemented through Dwcra Groups,” Naidu said.