Question : Closure of Factories

(a)the number of factories/production units, power plants/coal units lying closed and declared sick in various parts of the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(b)the number of labourers/employees rendered unemployed as a result thereof during the said period, State/UT-wise;
(c)whether the Government proposes to revive these factories/units/power plants/coal units lying closed and provide alternative employment to the labourers and employees rendered unemployed;
(d)if so, the details thereof and the amount of funds allocated and released for this purpose during the said period, State/UT-wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e)whether the Government has introduced any mechanism for re-employment/rehabilitation of workers/labourers who are rendered jobless due to sickness/closure of the said units and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) & (b): As per information furnished by Labour Bureau, based on the monthly voluntary returns furnished by the Labour Departments of the States and the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), the number of factories/ production units, power plants/coal units lying closed and declared sick in various parts of the country as well as the number of labourers/employees rendered unemployed as a result thereof during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise are at Annexure.
Contd..2/-
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(c) & (d): Labour falls under the concurrent list, both Central and State Governments are competent to enact and amend labour laws for their respective jurisdiction. The Government undertakes appraisals of performance of each CPSE under the central sphere to assess its future prospects and take appropriate course of action in respective cases. As a follow up of this exercise, loss making CPSEs having potential of turnaround are revived and those found chronically sick, are closed down after payment of due compensation to their employees through attractive VRS/ VSS.
(e): The interests of the affected workers are protected through measures such as provision of compensation under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. Counseling, Retraining & Redeployment (CRR) scheme as a social safety net to provide opportunities of self wage employment to the employee (or dependents) of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) separated under VRS/VSS or retrenched due to closure/ restructuring of CPSEs. CRR aims to reorient VRS/ VSS optees/ dependents through short duration skill development training to enable them to adjust in the new environment and adopt new avocations after their separation from the CPSEs. CRR scheme is being implemented in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

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