Nagpur: The Maharashtra government has constituted a study group committee to examine the feasibility of establishing a Contract Workers Welfare Board on the lines of the Haryana model, aimed at providing legal safeguards and job security to contractual workers. Labour Minister Aakash Fundkar said a final decision will be taken after reviewing the committee's report and holding discussions with the chief minister.
The announcement came during a meeting with a delegation of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Vidarbha region, which raised several demands of workers from both organised and unorganised sectors. Key issues discussed included concerns of rice mill workers, mathadi labourers, security guards and contractual employees in Vidarbha.
Fundkar said the government is also considering a policy decision, on the lines of the beedi industry, to ensure minimum wages and eight-hour work shifts for employees in rice mills in Bhandara, Gondia and Chandrapur. To address long-pending registration issues of mathadi workers in Bhandara and Gondia, inspectors will be appointed immediately.
The minister also assured a revision of the Rs1,300 wage hike for security guards in Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara and Gondia, aligning it with the Pune board's policy. Issues related to promotions, wage disparity, ESIC expansion and pension provisions were also discussed.
