November 22, 2001

        The Government has liquidated all dues of workers including the wage arrears for central Public Sector units, which have been closed down as they were not revivable. Giving this information during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today, the Labour Minister Shri Sharad Yadav said that in case of other CPSUs, about one hundred crore rupees of workers’ statutory dues were liquidated during the first half of this year. He said that the total outstanding dues of workers were Rs. 1,811 crore for the quarter ending June 2001 as against Rs. !,899 crore for the quarter ending December 2000. Shri Yadav said that the outstanding dues included Rs. 860 on account of PF and Rs. 106 crore that of Gratuity. The Minister said that the workers in Burn Standard, National Instruments and Bharat Brakes & Valves have not been paid wages for the last few months. He said that the CPSUs are expected to pay wages and salaries from the internal resources of the company. However due to financial constraints faced by some PSUs, budgetary support is being provided on a case to case to basis.