Welfare package for workers of private companies
The implementation of a welfare package for employees of private companies registered under the Factories Act has been initiated across Punjab.
The Punjab Labour Welfare Department will provide monetary aid under talent scholarships, marriage and death grants to the employees through a one-window operation under the Workers Welfare Fund.
Scholarships will benefit the children of factory workers, who will be reimbursed for their educational expenses up to the university level.
A monthly stipend of Rs3,500 will be granted for the children of factory workers at the FSC level and Rs4,500 at the graduation level.
In the case of the semester system in universities, the students will be reimbursed for the fee that they will pay to their respective educational institution in advance.
The amount of the marriage grant has been jacked up from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000, while the death grant has been increased from Rs500,000 to Rs600,000.
The Punjab government will provide the factory workers with the required sum.
The Punjab Labour Department has been assigned the task to inform and create awareness among the factory employees about the talent scholarships as well as marriage and death grants.
Focal person, Amir Jabbar, said that employees of the private sector registered under the Factories Act will enjoy these benefits in addition to their health and education coverage, which have been in place for a while now.
He added that work on a mechanism for ensuring a minimum salary of Rs20,000 is already under way.
Jabbar said that the deserving children of factory workers will no longer be deprived of higher education due to a lack of resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2021.