Labour Minister Santosh Lad has proposed to get a small share in the cess on petrol and diesel, and state’s share in GST, for the welfare of the unorganised sector workers.
“I have requested the chief minister to give 1% or 2% of the cess on petrol and diesel to the Karnaraka State Unorganised Workers Social Security Board. We can get around Rs 2,000 crore from that, which can be utilised for the welfare of all unorganised sector workers. We can get around Rs 1,000 crore if 0.01% of State’s share in GST collection is given to the board,” he said.
A share in the cess on new vehicles to be given to the transport workers’ board would amount upto Rs 150 crore, which would help around 25 lakh unorganised workers like drivers and cleaners of commercial vehicles and allied workers like mechanics in garages, Lad added.
Speaking after distributing smart cards to unorganised sector workers in Hubballi on Tuesday, the minister said, the cine bill is aimed at the welfare of around one lakh cinema and cultural workers by using 1 or per cent cess on around four crore tickets sold in the state every year and the matter would be discussed with the Commercial Tax Department officials, also explaining the benefits of the gig workers’ ordinance.
