On May 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an economic package of Rs 20 lakh crores to support the nation gripped with the coronavirus crisis. The PM informed that the details of the plan would be shared by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman the next day. Since then Sitharaman has made an announcement in three tranches. The Financial Express reported live updates of the third tranche on May 15.
A WhatsApp text claims that labourers who have been working between 1990-2020 will get Rs 1.2 lakhs from the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MLE). The message is followed by a suspicious link ‘https://lI.IlllI.uno’ however the text includes a preview of the official website of MLE — labour.gov.in. The preview reads, “Ministry of Labour and Employment: Benefits available obtain ₹120000.”
Alt News received several requests to fact-check this on WhatsApp (+917600011160) and on our official Android application.
Fact-check
Alt News opened the suspicious link ‘https://lI.IlllI.uno’ and it directed to another domain ‘labour.rebajas.live’. Both websites are no longer accessible.
A Twitter user who tagged MLE to authenticate the message has attached the screenshots of the website when it was accessible.
@LabourMinistry
The workers who worked between the 1990 and 2020, have the right to receive the *benefit of ₹120000 from Ministry of Labour and Employment*. Check if your name is in the list of the people who have the rights to withdraw this benefits. https://t.co/8zZokc7iv7 pic.twitter.com/5Z6O8TMJCE— shirish mahadik (@ShirishMahadik) May 13, 2020
On May 14, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked the viral WhatsApp text on Twitter. “There is no such announcement by Govt. of India. Beware of such fraudulent websites,” reads the tweet.
Claim- A whatsapp message circulating, claims that workers who worked during 1990-2020 are entitled to receive Rs 120000 from Labour Ministry.#PIBFactCheck: Its #FakeNews! There is no such announcement by Govt. of India. Beware of such fraudulent websites. pic.twitter.com/qyS0mDmQW4
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 14, 2020
Similar message viral in other countries
Alt News found at least three variants of the viral WhatsApp text from 2019. According to them, the Government of Singapore, Malaysia, and Canada were giving similar benefits. The Strait Times reported that WhatsApp text claiming workers can claim $2,800 from the government was debunked the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore.
Last year, Alt News published a report debunking the social media claim that Employees’ Provident Fund is giving Rs 80,000 as benefits.
