THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Workers Welfare Fund Board here on Wednesday.

The board is to administer the welfare fund constituted for the workers of shops and commercial establishments.

Minister for Excise and Labour P.K. Gurudasan told mediapersons here on Monday that workers aged between 18 and 50 years could join the fund scheme by paying a monthly contribution of Rs.20 each.

The employer would have to pay an equal contribution to the fund. The Government would provide 25 per cent of the workers' contribution as grant to the fund.

A member of the scheme would be eligible for pension from the age of 60 years if he had paid the contributions continuously for ten years. In case of death of the member, his family would be eligible for a family pension provided he had paid the contributions for 15 years.

Women members would be eligible for 12 weeks' wages as maternity benefit.

Besides, assistance would be provided to members for medical treatment and marriage and education of children. The fund would also provide money to meet expenses in connection with funerals.

All workers of shops and establishments coming under the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act are covered under the fund scheme. Self-employed persons falling within the purview of the Act too can join the scheme.

They will be required to pay both the workers and employers contributions.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail