New Delhi, Aug 22 : Union Minister for Steel Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday announced special recruitment drive and increase in salaries for Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe contract labourers in Public Sector Units (PSUs).

The decision was taken at a review meeting on Thursday that assessed progress, earmarked specific percentage of jobs for SC, ST and set welfare measures for employees and contract labourers.

"It was decided that PSUs like SAIL, NMDC, RINL, MOIL and MSTC would chalk out time bound, two months recruitment drives for SC,ST candidates to fill vacancies, " Paswan said.

"The Ministry plans to come out with advertisements within a fortnight for filling vacancies of SC,ST candidates in each PSU," said Paswan.

A decision has been made to merge 50 per cent of the Dearness Allowance in the basic salary for all regular employees of SAIL, and increase monthly salary of contractual labourers in steel PSUs by Rs1, 000. The Central government has already approved increment to all the regular employees of SAIL and RINL at the rate of four per cent of their basic pay. The Ministry will work out the modalities in this regard by September and expenditure would be borne by company themselves.

ANI