In a significant move to support industrial workers affected by long-term closures, the Government of West Bengal has officially extended the Financial Assistance to the Workers in Locked Out Industrial Units (FAWLOI) scheme for another year. The decision ensures continued financial assistance to thousands of workers, including those in closed tea gardens, from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.
The extension was notified by the Labour Department on 06 May 2025, in continuation of its earlier notice dated 18 April 2024. This extension comes with the concurrence of the Finance Department, reaffirming the government’s commitment to worker welfare in the face of ongoing industrial stagnation in some sectors.
Key Highlights:
- Scheme Name: Financial Assistance to the Workers in Locked Out Industrial Units (FAWLOI).
- Validity Extended: From 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.
- Beneficiaries: Workers of locked-out factories and closed tea gardens.
- Authority: Labour Department, West Bengal; approved by Finance Department.
- Purpose: To provide monthly financial aid to workers facing income loss due to industrial lock-outs.
The FAWLOI scheme has been a lifeline for thousands of families whose income was disrupted due to locked-out or non-operational industrial units across the state. Workers eligible under the scheme receive monthly assistance to help them meet essential needs.
