CHENNAI: The labour department has launched an online portal for fresh registrations of workers of unorganised sectors, who were left out of the government Covid-19 welfare measures.
During the lockdown, the Tamil Nadu government provided financial support of Rs 1,000 and dry ration twice to the registered members of the welfare boards. According to officials, 27.4 lakh labourers were registered with the 17 welfare boards under the labour department.
Commissioner of the labour department R Nanthagopal on Monday issued new membership cards for a few labourers who registered online.
Welcoming the government’s move to launch the portal (http://labour.tn.gov.in ) to facilitate labourers to register online and enjoy the benefits of the social security scheme, the labour fronts stated that this was a long pending demand.
Until now, the labourers have to go to the labour department office in person to submit the application form. “The labourers are forced to forgo two to three days of earning and also spend their hard-earned money for commuting,” said Pon Kumar, the former chairperson of the welfare board of construction labour.
He said that more than 50% of the labourers have been denied the benefits due to non-registration. “There were around 35 lakh labourers in the construction industry alone in TN,” said Pon Kumar and alleged that the government has been distributing the financial aid to only around 12 lakh members who have renewed their membership.
He suggested that the government extend the Covid-19 financial support scheme and the relief kits to all the labourers during this unprecedented time.
During the lockdown, the Tamil Nadu government provided financial support of Rs 1,000 and dry ration twice to the registered members of the welfare boards. According to officials, 27.4 lakh labourers were registered with the 17 welfare boards under the labour department.
Commissioner of the labour department R Nanthagopal on Monday issued new membership cards for a few labourers who registered online.
Welcoming the government’s move to launch the portal (http://labour.tn.gov.in ) to facilitate labourers to register online and enjoy the benefits of the social security scheme, the labour fronts stated that this was a long pending demand.
Until now, the labourers have to go to the labour department office in person to submit the application form. “The labourers are forced to forgo two to three days of earning and also spend their hard-earned money for commuting,” said Pon Kumar, the former chairperson of the welfare board of construction labour.
He said that more than 50% of the labourers have been denied the benefits due to non-registration. “There were around 35 lakh labourers in the construction industry alone in TN,” said Pon Kumar and alleged that the government has been distributing the financial aid to only around 12 lakh members who have renewed their membership.
He suggested that the government extend the Covid-19 financial support scheme and the relief kits to all the labourers during this unprecedented time.
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