PANAJI
Around 1,115 workers of Public Works Department’s society have been deprived of schemes like Provident Fund, ESI, etc for over a year, making them stare at an uncertain future.
The workers who served the Public Works Department in various positions on contract basis for more than five years were taken on rolls in April 2020 by the Society which was formed under the Department.
These workers were given appointment letters by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and PWD Minister Deepak Prabhu Pauskar. The salaries of the workers have been directly credited into their bank account, however, these workers are yet to get the benefits of schemes such as Provident Fund and ESI.
Workers give a portion of their salaries to the provident fund and employers contribute equal amount on behalf of their employees. The money in the fund is then held and managed by the government, and eventually withdrawn by retirees or, in certain countries, their surviving families.
Employees' State Insurance (ESI) is a self-financing social security and health insurance scheme for workers. The fund is managed by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) according to rules and regulations stipulated in the ESI Act 1948. ESIC is a Statutory and an Autonomous Body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.
The government had given us an assurance that from January 2011 the benefits of two schemes would be extended but till date nothing has been done about it, said one of the workers.
When the society officials were contacted, they said that correspondence in context with details of workers had come from the parent department of the PWD to the society.
“When we get complete data about the workers, the benefits of the schemes will be implemented, said the Chairman of the society.
The government had earlier given an assurance to increase daily wages by Rs 40. However, the government has not fulfilled that promise too.
