Lok Sabha Question No. 2563 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Plight of NLC Labourers
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2563 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## Plight of NLC Labourers

## 2563.   Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken serious note on the plight of contract labourers/employees engaged by Neyveli Lignite Corporation of India Limited (NLC) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the effective measures taken by the Government to provide minimum 20-24 days of work for the daily wage workers in NLC;

(c) the total number of contract employees, daily wage labourers deployed by NLC and the wages paid during the last four years to till date, year-wise; and

(d) the total number of management employees in NLC and the details of the salary paid during the last four years, year-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) NLCIL has been a forerunner in providing various benefits/ welfare measures to the contract workmen  deployed  through  contractors  for  execution  of  certain  works.  The  benefits  and welfare measures extended to contract workmen deployed in NLCIL and regular employees of NLCIL are enclosed as Annexure-A and Annexure-B respectively.

(b) The  days  of  deployment  of  contract  workmen  by  the  contractor  depends  on  the  work requirement and terms of the contract.  However, it is informed that majority of the contract workmen deployed by the contractors in NLCIL are engaged for the maximum permissible limit of 26/27 shifts per month.

(c) The details of contract men in position (MIP) and amount paid to the contractors during the past four years are enclosed as Annexure-C and Annexure-D respectively.

(d) The  year  wise  -  Total  number  of  permanent  employees  in  NLC  India  Ltd  and  the salary/wages paid during the last four years is furnished below:

|   Sl. NO. | Year ending       |   Permanent employees | Salary and Wages paid (In Rs. Cr.)   |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------|
|         1 | 31 st March' 2021 |                 11379 | 2,688.36                             |
|         2 | 31 st March'2022  |                 11246 | 2,624.48                             |
|         3 | 31 st March'2023  |                 10781 | 2,526.32                             |
|         4 | 31 st March'2024  |                 10368 | 2 ,646.73                            |

Details are contained in Annexure B.

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## STATUTORY AND WELFARE MEASURES EXTENDED TO CONTRACT WORKMEN ENGAGED THROUGH CONTRACTORS IN NLC INDIA LIMITED, NEYVELI.

## 1. CONTRACT LABOUR STATUTORY COMPLIANCE

- 1.1 The Contractor Employers are following all applicable statutory compliance(s) as per the following Acts;
- The Contract Labour Regulation and Abolition Act, 1970.
- The Employees Provident fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
- The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948.
- The Employees Compensation Act, 1923
- The payment of Minimum Wages Act, 1948
- The Payment of Wages Act, 1936
- The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
- The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 and other applicable Acts and Rules.
- 1.2 The Principal Employer (i.e NLCIL) is strictly ensuring compliance of all the above statutory requirements.

## 2. Statutory benefits

Contribution  to  Employees  Provident  Fund  (EPF),  Payment  Of  Gratuity,  Contribution  to Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIC, Payment of Compensation under the Employees Compensation Act, 1923, Payment of Bonus & Ex-Gratia, Payment on National And Festival Holidays, Annual Leave With Wages (ALW) are being extended to contract workmen as per the provisions of the respective Acts.

## 2.1 WAGES :

Wages are being paid to the contract workmen are more than the CLC (C )/ Central notified wages. The wages paid as per the 12 (3) settlement dated 07/08/2020, in NLCIL, Neyveli, is as under:

| Skill Category   | Total wages (including DAandAllowances) paid by NLCILas on 01/10/24 (in Rs./ Per Month)   |
|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| A) Above Ground  | A) Above Ground                                                                           |
| USK              | 25067                                                                                     |
| SSK              | 26679                                                                                     |
| SK               | 28161                                                                                     |

| HSK                 | 30522               |
|---------------------|---------------------|
| B) Below Ground     | B) Below Ground     |
| USK                 | 26289               |
| SSK                 | 27901               |
| SK                  | 30652               |
| HSK                 | 33460               |
| C) Other than Mines | C) Other than Mines |
| USK                 | 24937               |
| SSK                 | 26185               |
| SK                  | 27641               |
| HSK                 | 29248               |

## 3. Non - Statutory benefits

- 3.1 Medical benefits to self and dependents for outpatient/ inpatient treatment at NLCIL Hospital at Neyveli, educational assistance to the wards of contract workmen, tuition fee reimbursement for wards of contract workmen, 2 sets of stitched uniform, are extended to the contract workmen.
- 3.2 In addition to the above, contract Workmen Death Relief Fund (CWDRF) Trust has been established to provide death relief to the dependants of contract workmen who lose their life due to accidents / natural reasons while in employment.
- 3.3 Compassionate employment will be provided to the eligible dependent of deceased who die due to industrial accident or family relief (in lieu of employment).
- 3.4 Free education, Free Breakfast, Noon meal & Uniforms to children studying in 11 th & 12 th Std in NLCIL schools.
- 3.5 Quarters are being allotted to Contract workmen and provided with free water, subsidized Electricity & nominal rent.
- 3.6 Around 5100 contract workmen were regularised as employees of NLICL, based on the common seniority list and settlements entered with the trade unions representing contract workmen.

## PAY AND OTHER BENEFITS TO REGULAR EMPLOYEES OF NLCIL, NEYVELI

- 1.0 The Unionized Category of Workmen/ Non-Executive of NLCIL are paid wages and allowances as per the Memorandum of Understanding dt.05/12/2018, is as given below:
- 2.0 The Executives and Non-Unionized Supervisors of NLCIL are paid wages and allowances as per the DPE guidelines dated as given below
- 2.1 Non- Unionized Supervisors

| Grade   | Scale of Pay        |
|---------|---------------------|
| W0A     | 15000 - 3% - 30000  |
| W0      | 16000 -3% - 40000   |
| W1      | 18000 - 3% - 73000  |
| W2      | 19000 - 3% - 77000  |
| W3      | 20000 -3% - 81000   |
| W4      | 21000 - 3% - 85000  |
| W5      | 22000 - 3% - 90000  |
| W6      | 23000 - 3% - 95000  |
| W7      | 24000 - 3% - 100000 |
| W8      | 25000 - 3% - 105000 |
| SG1     | 26000 - 3% - 110000 |
| SG2     | 27000 - 3% - 115000 |
| SG3     | 28000 - 3% - 117000 |
| SG4     | 30000 - 3% - 120000 |

| Grade   | Pay Scale       |
|---------|-----------------|
| S-1     | Rs.31000-100000 |
| S-2     | Rs.32000-110000 |
| S-3     | Rs.34000-120000 |
| S-4     | Rs.36000-130000 |

## 2.2 Executives

| Grade   | Pay Scale        |
|---------|------------------|
| E-1     | Rs.40000-140000  |
| E-2     | Rs.50000-160000  |
| E-3     | Rs.60000-180000  |
| E-4     | Rs.70000-200000  |
| E-5     | Rs.80000-220000  |
| E-6     | Rs.90000-240000  |
| E-7     | Rs.100000-260000 |
| E-8     | Rs.120000-280000 |
| E-9     | Rs.150000-300000 |

- 3.0 Further the employees are paid Common Allowance @ 35% on revised basic pay towards perks and allowances.
- 4.0 In addition to the above, the workmen are paid Area Based Compensation ranging from Rs.250 to 8700, Night Shift Compensation @ Rs.150/- per night shift, HRA ranging from 8% to 24%, Superannuation Benefits @ 30% of BP+DA (CPF + Gratuity + Superannuation Pension Scheme and Post-Retirement Medical Benefits).
- 5.0 In respect of Executives, pay and allowances as paid as per the terms of Om Order W02/0028/2017-DPe (WC)-GL -XIII /17 dated 03 rd Aug 2017 of DPE guidelines.

## 6.0   Statutory Benefits

Provident Fund (PF) benefits (Exemption granted to maintain Trust), Payment of Gratuity, NLCIL Employees Deposit Linked Insurance, are paid/ regulated as per respective Act.

- 7.0 Non-statutory benefits.
- 7.1 Canteen facility, Potable drinking water, Rest shelters, Periodical medical check-up, First aid stations and well equipped First Aid Room, Transport facilities, Free supply of Terry Cotton uniform, shoes, gumboots, rain coats, goggles, etc.
- 7.2 Medical Services, Housing, Education, Community Development activities, Sports facilities, Social Welfare measures, Operation of subsidized transport facilities in the NLCIL Industrial Complex.
- 8.0 Presentation of Long Service Award, presentation of Loyal service award, marriage gift to the wards of the employee/ workman, superannuation Gift, Educational Scholarship to the wards of SC/ST employees and Meritorious Students, Central Library, Reading Rooms and Mobile Library and Group Personal Accident Insurance scheme.

9.0 Regular Employment is provided to the widow / ward/ legal heir on compassionate ground if the employee who die due to Industrial accident arising out of and in the course of employment or Family Relief in lieu of employment.

10.0 Uniforms and Liveries - Three sets of Uniform Footwear/ Protective Footwear, raincoats, helmets and safety appliances like goggles, respirators, hand gloves etc., at free of cost.

ANNEXURE-C

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| CONTRACTWORKMEN-MIPFORTHE PAST 4YEARS   | CONTRACTWORKMEN-MIPFORTHE PAST 4YEARS   | CONTRACTWORKMEN-MIPFORTHE PAST 4YEARS   | CONTRACTWORKMEN-MIPFORTHE PAST 4YEARS   | CONTRACTWORKMEN-MIPFORTHE PAST 4YEARS   | CONTRACTWORKMEN-MIPFORTHE PAST 4YEARS   |
|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Sl. No                                  | Year                                    | NLCIL, Neyveli                          | NLCIL, Barsingsar Project               | NLCIL, Talabira Project                 | Total                                   |
| 1                                       | 01-04-2021                              | 14992                                   | 786                                     | 63                                      | 15841                                   |
| 2                                       | 01-04-2022                              | 15012                                   | 640                                     | 69                                      | 15721                                   |
| 3                                       | 01-04-2023                              | 15736                                   | 1045                                    | 567                                     | 17348                                   |
| 4                                       | 01-04-2024                              | 16142                                   | 1320                                    | 732                                     | 18194                                   |

## ANNEXURE-D

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