Question : PAYMENTS UNDER COAL WAGE AGREEMENT

(a) whether the Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO) which has since been merged with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has three coal mines at Chasnala, Jetpur and Ramnagar in which four thousand coal workers are working who have not been provided the benefits of National Coal Wage Agreement No.7 meant for the coal workers;

(b) if so, whether the National Coal Wage Agreement No.7 is likely to be extended to employees of IISCO to maintain uniformity in the salary and other facilities provided to the coal workers of the country; and

(c) if so, the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (DR. AKHILESH DAS)

(a)to(c): Pursuant to merger of Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO) with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and to have parity of wage system among all plants/units of SAIL, including collieries of IISCO Steel Plant (ISP), it has been agreed to adopt pay scales/benefits at par with SAIL, as per current National Joint Committee for Steel Industry (NJCS) Agreement. For the period between 1/7/1996 to 31/12/1996, pay would notionally be fixed as per National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA-VI). Further, it has also been agreed that while fitting the employees of collieries in the NJCS scale of pay notionally from 1/1/1997, it shall be ensured that their wages in terms of NCWA-VII as applicable on 1/4/2005, will be protected.