New Delhi, October 1
The Union Cabinet today approved the raising of salary or wage eligibility limit for the payment of bonus to Rs 10,000 for the organised sector labour force ahead of the beginning of the festival season and also with an eye on the possible snap general poll.

It also increased the salary or wage ceiling for calculating bonus from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,500 per month.

Moreover, labourers from the booming construction sector will also be able to avail bonus benefits.

“The Cabinet has approved amendment to Section 12 of the Bonus Act to raise the eligibility of salary or wage for the payment of bonus from Rs 3,500 to Rs 10,000 per month and salary limit for calculating bonus from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,500,” labour minister Oscar Fernandes told reporters.

He said construction workers, even if they had worked for a month with builders or contractors, would also be eligible to avail a proportional bonus from their employers.

The decision would benefit seven per cent of the total workforce in the country, which is working in the organised sector, said the minister.