The two day 44th Session of Indian Labour Conference which ended on Wednesday, has recommended national minimum wages applicable to all employments throughout the country.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi after the end of the Conference, the Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Mallikarjun Kharge said that issues of minimum wages, social security and Employability and Employment were discussed by a Conference Committee during the conference.

He said that there was a broad consensus that Minimum Wages Act should cover all employments. He said, it was recommended that the payment of minimum wages should be done through banks and post offices.

Mr Kaharge said, on the issue of social security, a consensus has emerged that the wage ceiling for the application of Employees' Provident Fund Act, should be increased from the present level of 6500 rupess to 10,000 rupees or 15,000 rupees.

He said that Conference Committee has recommneded increasing the maternity leave under the Maternity Benefit Act from the present level of 12 weeks to 24 weeks.

On the issue of Employability and Employment, the Committee has recommended that employment generation and employbility should be the top agenda of the government.

The Committee also underlined the need to declare the National Employment Policy in order to provide enabling framework for facilitating employment generation and decent working conditions for all.