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Pakistan today released 100 Indians, the first batch from the 442 Indian fishermen languishing in a jail in Karachi, after rights activists fought a legal battle in the Supreme Court against their unlawful detention. The first batch of 442 Indian fishermen to be freed from Pakistani prisons was released from Malir Jail in the southern port city of Karachi today, rights activists said.

The fishermen were all arrested and convicted for illegally entering Pakistani waters. A group of 100 fishermen emerged from the jail at 8 am and began their journey to the eastern city of Lahore, said B M Kutty, a representative of the NGO Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, which works for the release of prisoners. "The fishermen will reach the Wagah land border at 10 am tomorrow so that they can be repatriated to India," Kutty told PTI.

The fishermen are travelling to Lahore in two buses with a 20-strong police escort. There were emotional scenes as the fishermen came out of the jail to be greeted by members of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, which had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the release of all fishermen who have completed their prison terms.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/Pakistan-releases-100-Indian-fishermen/Article1-593845.aspx

Kolkata, Aug. 30: The West Bengal Government has announced the launch of a social security and welfare scheme for workers of the transport industry.

Under the scheme, workers will receive pension at a determined rate in case they continue with the scheme for at least five years at a stretch, according to a press statement issued by the State Information and Cultural Affairs Department.

"Workers as well as dependent members of families will be beneficiaries of the scheme on the basis of the respective workers' association with bus, taxi, luxury taxi, light commercial vehicle, lorry, truck and other vehicles used for commercial purposes," the release said.

Workers covered under the scheme will also get disability pension in the event of accidents. They will also be provided with financial grant in case of accidental death.

"The State government will provide special one-time grant of Rs 1 lakh in case of accidental death of a worker to his or her nominee or dependents and a grant of Rs 30,000 in case of death of the enrolled worker," the release said.

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Chennai, Aug.30: Co-operative societies are covered by the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and the fact that they are exempted by a notification of 1979 "is not absolute", the Madras High Court has held.

On the contrary, the said notification applied to provisions of Sections 31, 41, 43, 50 and 51 of the Co-operative Societies Act, Mr Justice K. Chandru ruled. The power to exempt co-operative societies under the Act was exercised under Section 6, which itself showed that the society was a commercial establishment, without which no such exemption was necessary.

The Supreme Court, the Judge noted, vide its judgment in the State of Tamil Nadu vs K. Sabanayagam [reported in Jt 1997 (9) SC 316] held that if an employer sought exemption from provisions of an Act that itself would indicate that the Act would apply. Therefore, the said objection must fail.

Dismissing a writ petition by S. Attayampatty Peramanur Primary Agricultural Co-op Bank, Salem District, challenging the order dated July 24, 2000 of the Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Salem (R-1), who was the Minimum Wages Authority, computing the minimum wages paid by the petitioner to its employees, the Judge referred to the contention of the petitioner that they were paying more wages than the statutory minimum wages fixed and said it could not be accepted because such a contention was not raised before the authority under the Act. This Court was not inclined to entertain such objection.

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http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/08/31/stories/2010083151811900.htm