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* Promotion of Labour Welfare in India
Question relating to dearness allowance for industrial workers, absenteeism, maintenance of service records and canteens were among the subjects discusssed at the fourth meeting of the Standing Labour Committee which was held on January 25 and
26 in Lucknow.
The meeting was held at the Council House, the Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Labour Member, Government of India, presiding. Five delegates each of employers’ and workers’ organisations, five delegates of Provincial Governments and three delegates representing the Indian States attended.
Dr. Ambedkar’s Speech
In his opening remarks, the Chairman, referring to the steps which are being taken by the Central Government to implement the decisions taken at an earlier session of the Standing Labour Committee, indicated that the Government had decided to introduce the Fair Wages Clause in contracts entered into by the Central Public Works Department. The question of introducing a similar clause in contracts entered into by other Departments of the Central Government, he said, was under consideration.
The Chairman also announced that in pursuance of the resolution passed at the last Plenary session of the Labour Conference, the Government of India had appointed a Labour Investigation Committee for the investigation of wages, earnings and other conditions of labour. The question of extending the enquiry in a suitable manner to agricultural wage earners, he said, was also being considered in consultation with the Provincial Governments.
The Committee then discussed the method of Statutory Wage Control in India if and when such statutory control was found necessary.
*Indian Information, February 15, 1944, pp. 151-52.