Labour Ministry Panel Seeks Basic Living Wage

An expert commission has suggested payment of a basic living wage in the event of loss of employment.

Key Points

• The expert commission was a 1-member commission under which CV Ananda Bose recommended paying a basic living wage to workers in case of loss of employment, establishing the Labour Authority of India as a nodal body, and also a basic minimum social security.
• CV Ananda Bose is a former IAS officer.
• He also recommended creating registries for the collection of data on migrant workers and non-resident Indians (NRIs). This data will be helpful in framing policies.
• As per the reports, Bose also suggested merging the Department of Industry under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• The commission was set up in May 2020 under the Labour Ministry’s Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB).
• The aim of setting the one-member commission was to prepare an action plan for the welfare and development of workers during the pandemic.
• Now the report will be presented to the Union Labour Minister and Prime Minister.

Unemployment increased drastically in April and May 2020 due to COVID-19.