The changes in Dainik Vetanbhogi Karmachari (Seva ki Shartein) Niyam, 2013, giving benefits to more than 50,000 daily wages employees in the State that were endorsed by the cabinet earlier became effective from Sunday.
The daily wages employees that are likely to get benefit by the changes include skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. Under the changes, the daily wagers will get special monthly allowance of Rs 1500 for 10 to 20 years of service and Rs 2500 for more than 20 years service.
According to the changes that were notified earlier by the government, class III or equivalent rank daily wage employees will retire on completing 60 years of age and class IV or equivalent rank daily wage employees on attaining age of 62 years. The daily wages employees will be entitled to the benefit of National Pension Scheme. Under it, 10 per cent of the wages will be deducted for contribution in the scheme and equal amount will be contributed by the State Government. The employees will be entitled to interest on the amount.
The employees will also be given a sum of Rs 1 lakh as gratuity. However, this benefit will accrue to only those employees who have served for five years uninterruptedly in government service. Besides, they will be given 3 national holidays, 5 festival holidays, 7 casual leaves and weekly off on Sundays. Women employees will be given maternity leave as per government policy. The decision is likely to burden the exchequer with Rs 70 crore annually.