Guwahati:  The Union Government has taken measures for implementation of National Career Service Project, under which 100 model career centres will be set up in India, 18 in North East States, said Mr Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour & Employment at the Regional conference of state Labour Ministers and Principal Secretaries of Labour of North Eastern States.

The conference was held on 5 January 2017 and was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Assam, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal in Guwahati. The Secretary, Labour and Employment, Govt. of India, Mrs  Sathiavathi and officers from all the 7 states of North East were also present.

The minister informed that Shram Suvida Portal, an initiative of the Government has ushered  transparency and accountability leading to better enforcement of labour laws, simplification of 43 labour laws in to four major labour codes  such as code on wages; code on Industrial relations; code as Social Security & Welfare; and Code on safety & working conditions is under process.

Addressing the conference, the Minister highlighted the various legislative reforms recently taken by the government in the labour and job markets.  Mr Dattatreya informed these reforms include hiking the eligibility limit under Bonus Act from Rs 10,000 to 21000 per month and enhancement of calculation ceiling from Rs 3500 to Rs 7000, amendments through child labour (Prohibitions & Regulation) Amendment Bill 2016, that stipulates complete prohibition of child labour below 14 years and stringent punishment for its violation. The Amendment also prohibits the adolescents of age group of 14-18 years to be employed in hazardous occupations.

Earlier, inaugurating the conference the Chief Minister of Assam urged to upgrade the ESIC Model Hospital at Beltola from 50 bedded to 150 bedded.