<p></p><p> The Labour Department distributed benefits to the tune of Rs 217 crore this Onam, Labour Minister Shibu Baby John said. The amount was used to distribute pensions and other benefits related to welfare schemes under the department till June 2014, he said. </p><p>A total of Rs 187 crore was distributed as workers’ pensions and Rs 19.75 crore was distributed as pension to cashew workers. The pension of Rs 600, which was hiked from April 2014, was distributed this time.“The government was able to settle many bonus-related issues and distribute ex gratia and increased benefits to employees working with establishments which had been shut for some time,” he said. </p><p>An amount of Rs 3.16 crore was distributed as pension to the employees in the unorganised sector. An amount of Rs 2.44 crore was allotted to provide ex gratia to employees of various establishments which remain closed. While factory employees were given an ex gratia of Rs 2,250 each, estate workers were given Rs 1,200 and cashew workers Rs 750. For cashew workers, 20 per cent of their total remuneration income in 2014 was given as bonus, 2.5 per cent was given as ex-gratia and Rs 8,000 as bonus advance. </p><p>Cashew factory workers, who draw monthly salaries, were given bonus amount equal to their salary for three months and 12 days. Coir workers were given 20 per cent of their remuneration as bonus and 9.62 per cent as ex gratia, the Minister said. </p><p>The department was able to introduce the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment Ordinance, 2014, to protect the rights of employees in shops and various establishments across the state. Also, another ordinance was introduced by amending the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, to ensure minimum wages to employees. Shibu Baby John said that the government had sanctioned Rs 26 crore to distribute unemployment allowances for the period from June 2013 to March 2014. The government was able to distribute all welfare pensions before Onam itself, the Minister said. </p><p> </p><br><p></p>