December 22, 2015
Aparupa Poddar speaks on Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015
Thank you, Deputy-Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to speak on this Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
The Bill provides for payment of bonus to persons employed in certain establishments on the basis of profits or on the basis of production or productivity. The Act provides bonus to employees of certain establishments including factories and establishments employing 20 or more persons. Under the Act, the payment of bonus to the employees whose salary or wages is up to Rs. 10,000 per month. The Bill seeks to increase the eligibility limit to Rs. 21,000 per month.
Under the new Act, the casual labour and the contract labour are eligible for bonus. The law stipulates that an employer is mandated to give a minimum bonus of 8.33 per cent of the salary. So, the worker earning Rs. 7,000 per month will receive a minimum bonus equivalent to 8.3 per cent of his salary.
An employee is entitled for bonus only when he has worked for 30 working days in the year. Considering the cost of living and other connected matters, it has to be reviewed. There should be no upper limit of salary for getting bonus.
Everybody working in various sectors should get bonus. Labour voices have been silent; over the years trade unions have been sterilised. But without a vibrant, well-paid workforce, India will not have a domestic demand to fuel its 1.3 billion people economy.
If companies do not pay bonus on time, the Government should take legal steps and speedy justice should be given to the labourer’s family. I want the assurance from the hon. Minister who is present here.
I have a suggestion to the Minister that there should be a provision of giving bonus in advance for the employees who have some emergency in their families. At least 50 per cent of the bonus should be given to them in the case of an emergency.
On behalf of our Party, All India Trinamool Congress and our hon. Leader Mamata Banerjee, on this festive occasion, I welcome this Bill and support it.
Thank you.
