(a) whether the Union Government has received any request from the State Governments to change the working hours of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS);
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto? |
| ANSWER |
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a) & (b): Recently a request has been received from the Government of Kerala for fixing working hours under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to 7 hours including 1 hour rest.
(c): Para 8 of Schedule-I of MGNREGA contains provisions regarding working hours under the Act. The existing provision in this regard is as under: `8 (1) The Schedule of rates of wages for various unskilled labourers shall be so fixed that an adult person working for nine hours would normally earn a wage equal to the wage rate. (2) The working days of a adult worker shall be so arranged that inclusive of intervals of rest, if any, it shall not spread over more than twelve hours on any day`.
A clarification was also issued that nine hours of work would include a period of one hour of rest. There is no proposal for either increase or decrease in number of working hours and flexibility for adjusting working hours in a day is already provided under the above section. In accordance with the provisions in para 7, 8 and 8A of Schedule I of MGNREG Act, wages are to be paid according to the out turn of work and schedule of rates fixed by the State Governments. |
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