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LABOUR DEPARTMENT In
the year 1995, the general rates of daily wages of workers borne
on Muster Roll had been revised and doubled from Rs. 20/- to Rs.
40/- per day vide Notification No. 18/DL dated 15.3.1995 which
remained effective till April, 2001. Keeping in view the price
index and the hardships faced by the workers, the State Government
has once again raised the rates of wages of all categories of
workers at a flat rate of Rs. 10/- per day vide Notification No.
1/DL, dated 7.05.2001.
So far, as many as 12 (twelve) Labour Laws for
the welfare of the workers have been enforced in the State of
Sikkim. They are as follows :-
1. Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.
2. Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
3. Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979.
4. Sikkim Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1983.
5. Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923.
6. Fatal Accident Act, 1855.
7. Employers’ Liability Act, 1938.
8. Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
9. Payment of Wages Act, 1936.
10. Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act,
1952.
11. Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.
12. Building and Other Construction workers (RE&CS) Act, 1996.
1. The Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act,
1952 enforced on 1.11.1995 is applicable to all the establishments
having 20 or more workers. Under this scheme~ workers are
facilitated with provident fund, pension, family pension and
employees’ deposit- linked insurance. This Act is being
administered by the machineries of the Central Provident Fund
Organization. Initially, in 1998, one service centre was set up
under the charge of an Enforcement Officer at Gangtok and
monitored from Siliguri Office. After taking note of the
difficulties faced by concerned local people and on demand of the
subscribers, the Labour Department took the initiative for the up
gradation and setting up of District Provident fund Office in
Gangtok recently which is rendering necessary services to the
subscribers at Gangtok without having to go to Siliguri.
2. For the effective monitoring of movement of
migrant workers and to check the influx of other class of workers
in to Sikkim, the State Government have appointed the District
Collectors of all the districts as the Registering and Licencing
Authorities of the Establishments and the Contractors all-over
Sikkim under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979, in
addition to the Labour Enforcement Officers and Inspectors of the
Labour Department. It is hoped that this measures would achieve
the desired result.
3. Payment of Wages Act, 1936 was enforced on
30.11.1995. This Act is applicable to all the Industrial
Establishments and Shops and Commercial Establishments and
provides for payment of wages in time with a penalty, provision in
case of default by the employers.
4. The Building and Other Construction Workers
Welfare Cess Act, 1996 was enforced on 03.11.1995 and the Building
and Other Constructions of (Regulation of Employment and
Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 was enforced on 01.03.1996 which
provide various welfare measures for the workers engaged in
construction works. Rules under the said Acts are being framed and
steps are also being initiated for the constitution of Board and
other infrastructure for the effective implementation of these
Acts are required.
The Labour Department has been providing
various administrative service support to the workers as required
under the law and also prevailing over the Employers in providing
necessary welfare measures to their employees as required under
the relevant laws.
The Labour Department has also been successful in settling the
dispute amicably between the management of Yuksom Breweries Ltd.
and its workers in April, 1998 and also dispute between the Sikkim
Truck Drivers’ Association and Sikkim Truck Owners’ Association in
June, 1998.
Besides the Head Office at Gangtok, the Labour Department has also
set up one Regional Office at Jorethang and Sub-Offices at Mangan,
North District, Namchi, South District and Gyalshing, West
District to cater to the needs of the concerned people of Sikkim.
For the period under review, the State remained free from any
major industrial unrest and no report of any strike, lock-outs
etc. in any industrial establishments has been reported.
9. On the whole; it can safely be said that a
peaceful atmosphere prevails over the State of Sikkim for the
growth of industries in Sikkim.
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