FAISALABAD: Punjab Minister for Labor and Human Resources Ansar Majeed Khan on Wednesday distributed cheques worth over Rs 18.8 million among labourers and their families in a ceremony held here at Metropolitan Hall. The minister handed over cheques of Rs 4.6 million for death grant and Rs 14.2 million on account of talent scholarships to the students. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that welfare grants of Rs 7.5 billion had been distributed among the labourers in Punjab during the last three years. In Faisalabad, welfare grants of Rs 55.8 million had been distributed during the same period, he added. He said the labour department was striving for the welfare of workers and in this connection legislation was made to protect the rights of domestic workers while the Workers Welfare Fund was transferred from the federal to Punjab. He said the incumbent government had initiated the Labor Card Programme for the welfare of workers. Under this revolutionary programme, the Bank of Punjab would issue labour cards to 1.1 million workers and bank accounts of all registered workers would be opened through which their salaries would be paid. The minimum wage law would be implemented in letter and spirit, he added. The provincial minister said that 300, 000 workers had been registered during the last three years and social security cards were issued to the same number of workers. He said the labour department would set up women’s labor hostels in industrial areas while work was started on a motorcycle scheme for women workers. He said the Workers Profit Party Separation Fund Act had been implemented in the province which would collect the amount of Rs 25 billion from industries that would be spent on the welfare of labourers. The minister also announced to establish a zonal office of Labor Department in Faisalabad. Provincial Minister for Colonies and Culture Mian Khiyal Ahmad Kastro said the present government was taking practical steps for the welfare of workers. He said that closed industries resumed operations due to pro-industrial policies of the government. He said that by February 2022, every person’s identity card would be considered as health card, adding that students would be given interest free loans for ten years after matriculation which they would repay after completing their degree. He said the government had decided to give a monthly stipend of Rs 2, 500 to a female worker above 62 years of age and Rs 2, 000 to a male worker. Secretary Labor Punjab Liaquat Ali Chattha said that officers had been given a target to deal with 35, 000 pending applications for welfare grants in 90 days. He said that Rs 8 billion would be paid to the workers and their families in the next three months. He said the department had digitalized the services and now online applications would be submitted for welfare grants. He said that higher secondary schools, 500-room hostels and community centres would also be established in the labor colonies. Labor leaders also spoke on the occasion and thanked the Punjab government for resolving their problems.