CHENNAI: The Centre will set up a 100-bed Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital at Sriperumbudur, the industrial hub contiguous to the metro, Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya said on Monday.
He also sought the Tamil Nadu government’s support in providing land for the facility.
Dattatreya was speaking to reporters here after a review meeting on central government projects in the State. The minister added that seven ESIC dispensaries at Tambaram, Ranipet, Ambur, Dindigul, Alambadi, Rajapalayam and Virudhunagar would be upgraded in to 30-bed hospitals.
On the amendment to Child Labour Act, Dattatreya said the union government would seek suggestions from all parties and would then decide on allowing children below 14 years of age to work in family enterprises or entertainment industry with certain conditions.
The original child labour prevention law banned employment of children below 14 in only 18 hazardous industries.
Dattatreya further said over 19.84 crore people have opened bank accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana scheme.
When reporters asked about shutting down of many industries in Sriperumbudur and people above the age of 40 years losing the jobs, the minister said, the process of simplification of 44 central labour laws was under way. These laws would be compressed into four simple labour codes in the areas of wages, industrial relations, social security and working conditions to strengthen safety and social security of workers. Once this was done, the workers’ problems would be solved.