Chennai: Tamil Nadu govt has doubled accident insurance cover for registered gig workers to ₹10 lakh and unveiled a new programme to train construction workers for overseas jobs. Labour welfare minister J Mohamed Farvas announced the measures in the assembly on Tuesday. Under the new scheme titled ‘Vettri Karangal’, 1,000 registered construction workers will be given `international’ skill training to make them eligible for overseas employment, said the minister. The initiative will cost ₹15 crore, he said.Govt will also scale up skill training for other construction workers. As part of the initiative, 50,000 registered workers will receive seven-day training in masonry, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, painting, and other trades. They will get ₹800 a day as wage-loss compensation during the training, with ₹48 crore earmarked for the programme.For gig workers, the new package provides accident insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh. Govt will also bear interest on bank loans taken by 1,000 registered gig workers to buy e-bikes.The minister said govt will establish temporary shelters with basic amenities for migrant construction workers in Chennai and Coimbatore metropolitan areas at a cost of Rs 14 crore. Fifty worker facilitation centres will also come up at locations where construction workers gather, providing drinking water, basic amenities and access to welfare-board services.
