News for 'Ministry of Labour'

Protests over price rise wash out Rajya Sabha proceedings

Protests over price rise wash out Rajya Sabha proceedings

Rediff.com4 Apr 2022

In the Upper House of Parliament, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu did not allow adjournment notices moved by opposition members on the issue of price rise, prompting members of the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Left parties, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Shiv Sena to create an uproar.

'Solillada Saradara' Kharge: From a union leader to Cong prez

'Solillada Saradara' Kharge: From a union leader to Cong prez

Rediff.com19 Oct 2022

Sober by temperament and nature, Kharge has never landed in any major political trouble or controversy.

Explaining Young India's Anger Over Agnipath

Explaining Young India's Anger Over Agnipath

Rediff.com30 Jun 2022

Agnipath offers jobs to youngsters between 17.5 years and 23 years of age. The unemployment rate in this age group has risen from around 23% in 2017 to over 50% since 2020. Every second person who is looking for employment in this age group is unemployed, explains Mahesh Vyas.

Govt portal for stranded migrant workers soon

Govt portal for stranded migrant workers soon

Rediff.com27 Apr 2020

The portal, which has been tentatively named by the labour and employment ministry as the National Portal for COVID-19 Affected Unorganised Migrant Workers, will gather the details of all the unorganised sector workers who are stranded in relief camps, residential or industrial clusters.

Cong to bear cost of migrants' rail travel: Sonia

Cong to bear cost of migrants' rail travel: Sonia

Rediff.com4 May 2020

Gandhi noted that lakhs of migrants continue to walk hundreds of kilometres to reach back their homes without food, water, medicines and cash. She also accused the central government and the Railways of completely ignoring the demands made by the Congress for ensuring the safe and free travel of migrant workers and labourers to their homes.

Don't pay workers wages during calamities, says House panel

Don't pay workers wages during calamities, says House panel

Rediff.com25 Apr 2020

Parliamentary standing committee on labour, led by Biju Janata Dal MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, has said in its report that it is unjustifiable for owners to pay workers' wages during natural calamities.

What Auto Sales Tell Us About Economy

What Auto Sales Tell Us About Economy

Rediff.com21 Sep 2021

Retail sales of cars are back to January 2018 levels in August 2021. Two-wheeler retail sales are 22 per cent lower, nearly four years down the line.

Mystery of the 'vanishing' jobs data

Mystery of the 'vanishing' jobs data

Rediff.com7 Feb 2019

Given the rapid changes in the Indian labour market, there is an urgent need to have current, accurate and publicly available data through regular, dynamic and comprehensive surveys. Indeed, this was the intention behind constituting the NITI Aayog Task Force on Improving Employment Data. The attempts by the government to "improve" labour data has actually made it worse, say Rosa Abraham, Janaki Shibu & Rajendran Narayanan.

I-T exemption limit on gratuity doubled to Rs 20 lakh

I-T exemption limit on gratuity doubled to Rs 20 lakh

Rediff.com7 Mar 2019

The ceiling of gratuity amount under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, has been raised from time to time keeping in view overall economic condition and employers' capacity to pay and the salary of employees, which have been increased in private sector and in PSUs.

COVID-19 situation serious in Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Indore: Govt

COVID-19 situation serious in Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Indore: Govt

Rediff.com20 Apr 2020

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 543 and the number of cases climbed to 17,265 in the country on Monday, according to the Union health ministry.

Will clean image, loyalty to party and Gandhis help Kharge in Cong prez race?

Will clean image, loyalty to party and Gandhis help Kharge in Cong prez race?

Rediff.com30 Sep 2022

If elected, he will be the second All India Congress Committee president from Karnataka after S Nijalingappa, and also a Dalit leader to hold the post after Jagjivan Ram.

Ashok Pradhan joins Samajwadi Party, attacks BJP

Ashok Pradhan joins Samajwadi Party, attacks BJP

Rediff.com8 Apr 2014

In a setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party days ahead of the April 10 elections in Gautam Budh Nagar, former Union minister and senior leader Ashok Pradhan on Tuesday joined the Samajwadi Party, claiming that there was "trade" of Lok Sabha tickets in the saffron party.

Govt approves 8.5% interest rate on EPF for FY'21

Govt approves 8.5% interest rate on EPF for FY'21

Rediff.com29 Oct 2021

The government has approved 8.5 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund for the 2020-21 fiscal, a source said. Just ahead of Diwali, this is a good news for over five crore subscribers of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The 8.5 per cent rate of interest on provident fund deposits for the last financial year was decided by the EPFO's apex decision making body Central Board of Trustees (CBT) headed by Labour Minister in March this year.

Central trade unions begin two-day nationwide strike

Central trade unions begin two-day nationwide strike

Rediff.com28 Mar 2022

Talking to PTI Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), said, "The two-day nationwide strike by the joint forum of central trade unions has begun this morning". About the impact of the agitation, she said that the entire coal belt (mining area) is affected in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. She also said that there is a good response in industrial areas of Assam, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The AITUC official noted that the banks and insurance sectors are affected all over India, while steel and oil sectors are also seeing partial impact due to the strike. Kaur said that she has got preliminary reports that markets are closed in Odisha.

EPFO retains 8.5% interest rate for 2019-20

EPFO retains 8.5% interest rate for 2019-20

Rediff.com31 Dec 2020

Retirement fund body EPFO has retained 8.5 per cent interest rate on employees' provident fund (EPF) for 2019-20 for its over six crore members as decided earlier, and also began crediting the same into their accounts on Thursday. A large number of the members of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) would be able to see their updated EPF accounts with credit of 8.5 per cent interest for 2019-20, from Friday, a senior official told PTI. The official further said the labour ministry has already sent the direction to credit the 8.5 per cent interest on EPF for 2019-20 to the EPFO, and the body has already started crediting interest into the members' account for the last financial year.

Employment in 9 sectors at 3.08 cr in April-June

Employment in 9 sectors at 3.08 cr in April-June

Rediff.com27 Sep 2021

Employment in nine selected sectors, including construction, manufacturing and IT/BPO, was at 3.08 crore in the April-June quarter of 2021-22, reflecting a growth of 29 per cent compared to 2.37 crore reported in the Economic Census of 2013-14, according to a survey. Labour and Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday released the report of Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) part (April to June 2021), of the All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES) prepared by the Labour Bureau. Announcing the results, Yadav said the estimated total employment in the nine selected sectors from the first round of QES is 3 crore and 8 lakh approximately against a total of 2 crore and 37 lakhs in these sectors taken collectively, as reported in the sixth Economic Census (EC 2013-14) reflecting a growth rate of 29 per cent.

Budget 2022: Industry groups want Sitharaman to rationalise I-T slabs

Budget 2022: Industry groups want Sitharaman to rationalise I-T slabs

Rediff.com22 Dec 2021

Rationalisation of income tax slabs, infrastructure status for digital services and incentives to hydrogen storage as well as fuel cell development were some of the suggestions made by various stakeholders at the pre-Budget consultation meeting convened by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The customary pre-Budget consultation meetings were held with the finance minister virtually between December 15 and December 22, as per the finance ministry statement. More than 120 invitees representing seven stakeholder groups participated in eight meetings, scheduled during this period, it said.

Buzzing Manesar hub goes silent in powerless summer

Buzzing Manesar hub goes silent in powerless summer

Rediff.com16 May 2022

The intensity of power crisis this season has hit a new high with average coal stock dipping to less than eight days. The first of a pan-Indian series, based on a ground report, shows how the Manesar industrial hub is coping with the challenge. As the scorching heat wave and the lengthy power cuts intensify in Haryana, the usually bustling labour chowk of the Industrial Model Township (IMT) of Manesar wears a deserted look.

Two-day all India strike from Monday may hit essential services

Two-day all India strike from Monday may hit essential services

Rediff.com27 Mar 2022

The strike notices were given by workers' unions of various sectors such as coal, steel, oil, telecom, postal, income tax, copper, banks and insurance.

BMS, other trade unions fault draft wage code rules

BMS, other trade unions fault draft wage code rules

Rediff.com5 Nov 2019

BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said, "There are many anomalies in the draft rules on Code on Wages which need to be amended. The new rules are silent about many provisions clearly provided in the four Acts subsumed in the code."

Mudra loans led to a 28% rise in jobs

Mudra loans led to a 28% rise in jobs

Rediff.com7 Nov 2019

After taking benefit of the scheme, jobs increased by around 11 mn in establishments that took loans.

2nd Covid wave triggers downward re-rating for infra sector

2nd Covid wave triggers downward re-rating for infra sector

Rediff.com30 Apr 2021

Developers grappling with labour shortage and getting construction material to sites could be among a list of problems.

EPFO may now get to invest in cash-starved infra sector

EPFO may now get to invest in cash-starved infra sector

Rediff.com10 Nov 2020

At present, the EPFO is mandated to invest 20-45 per cent of its incremental funds - of around Rs 1.5 trillion - in debt-related instruments.

Kharge: 1st non-Gandhi Cong chief in 24 yrs is a Gandhi loyalist

Kharge: 1st non-Gandhi Cong chief in 24 yrs is a Gandhi loyalist

Rediff.com19 Oct 2022

Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge, a staunch Gandhi family loyalist from Karnataka, has become the Congress' first non-Gandhi president in 24 years.

Nitish keeps home, Tejashwi gets health; JD-U ministers get depts back

Nitish keeps home, Tejashwi gets health; JD-U ministers get depts back

Rediff.com17 Aug 2022

Portfolios were on Tuesday allocated in the new Bihar cabinet headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who, predictably, retained the all-important home department which helps him keep direct control on the state police.

Akhilesh inducts 12 new faces in ministry; ex-Akali leader's entry baffles all

Akhilesh inducts 12 new faces in ministry; ex-Akali leader's entry baffles all

Rediff.com31 Oct 2015

Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, whom Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav earlier gave a berth in the Rajya Sabha, was the surprise entry even for senior ministers who were seen asking each other about the background of the man from Punjab.

Govt depts to add over 1.4 lakh jobs between 2019 and March 1, 2021

Govt depts to add over 1.4 lakh jobs between 2019 and March 1, 2021

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

Over 1.4 lakh jobs are estimated to be created between March 2019 and March 2021 in various central government departments, according to the Union Budget presented on Monday. The strength of government establishments was 32,71,113 as on March 1, 2019, which is estimated to increase to 34,14,226 by the first day of next month - an increase of 1,43,113, it said. The budget documents have given a break-up of the jobs estimated to be created in central government departments between 2019 and March 2021.

COVID-19 recovery rate in India improves to 23.3%

COVID-19 recovery rate in India improves to 23.3%

Rediff.com28 Apr 2020

On Monday, the ministry had put the recovery rate from COVID-19 at 22.17 per cent.

India's unemployment rate at 45-year high!

India's unemployment rate at 45-year high!

Rediff.com31 May 2019

Releasing the survey report after taking into account the expert committee recommendations, Statistics Secretary Pravin Srivastava told reporter, "It is a new design and a new matrix. It would be unfair to compare it with the past. This 45- year high is your interpretation. I don't want to claim that it is 45-year low or high."

CAPF companies sent to Kashmir in wake of civilian killings

CAPF companies sent to Kashmir in wake of civilian killings

Rediff.com9 Nov 2021

The fresh companies were moved into the valley as part of the strategy of 'enhancing security and visibility' of the forces on the ground following the killings, they said.

EPFO to pay 8.5% interest for FY20 in two instalments

EPFO to pay 8.5% interest for FY20 in two instalments

Rediff.com10 Sep 2020

The remaining 0.35 per cent will be credited in December this year, if the EPFO is able to redeem its equity investments.

Seal borders to stop migrants, ensure lockdown: Centre to states

Seal borders to stop migrants, ensure lockdown: Centre to states

Rediff.com29 Mar 2020

States were directed to ensure there is no movement of people across cities or on highways. Only movement of goods should be allowed.

The Importance of Smriti Irani

The Importance of Smriti Irani

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

Being made a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs makes her an important player in BJP politics, observes Rashme Sehgal.

US-orchestrated UN report on Uygur Muslims illegal, null and void: China

US-orchestrated UN report on Uygur Muslims illegal, null and void: China

Rediff.com1 Sep 2022

The UN report stated that China has committed to "other predominantly Muslim communities" in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Modi's new ministers take charge a day after expansion

Modi's new ministers take charge a day after expansion

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other ministers took charge of their respective offices on Thursday, a day after taking oath at a ceremony held in the Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Javadekar, Vardhan, Pokhriyal and 8 other ministers quit

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Javadekar, Vardhan, Pokhriyal and 8 other ministers quit

Rediff.com7 Jul 2021

Ahead of the Union Cabinet expansion on Wednesday, several Union Ministers, including Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar resigned from their posts.

Compulsory annual health checks proposed for workers

Compulsory annual health checks proposed for workers

Rediff.com4 Apr 2018

This will help employers keep a track of the diseases workers could suffer from while doing their jobs.

Interest on EPF may be hiked to 8.65% for 2018-19

Interest on EPF may be hiked to 8.65% for 2018-19

Rediff.com21 Feb 2019

Once approved by the finance ministry, the rate hike will benefit six crore EPFO subscribers.

Bihar polls: Major issues affecting the electorate

Bihar polls: Major issues affecting the electorate

Rediff.com28 Oct 2020

As voting begins in Bihar in the first phase of assembly elections on Wednesday, the fate of political leaders depends on how the electorate perceives they can solve ground-level issues from reverse migration to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Army's inquiry team visits Nagaland firing site amid boycott by locals

Army's inquiry team visits Nagaland firing site amid boycott by locals

Rediff.com29 Dec 2021

The team also visited Tizit Police Station to meet the cross section of the society including civilians, police personnel and doctors who treated the injured for obtaining valuable information, he said.