(a) Each worker in an industry who is otherwise entitled to share in the benefits provided for blind persons under Articles 1 and 3 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 shall, in addition to the amount received as compensation for his services in the industry, receive from the Department of Human Resources such amount of public assistance as shall be determined in accordance with the regulations approved by the commissioner of human resources.

(b) All workers in the industries shall observe all holidays observed by other departments and agencies of the state government and shall receive their proportionate compensation for each holiday so observed. If any worker shall be compensated in such a manner that his daily compensation is not fixed, but rather is based upon a production basis, he shall receive by way of compensation for such observance of state holidays the average daily production compensation received by him during the immediately preceding 30 day period, holidays and Sundays excluded. The Department of Labor is authorized and directed to pay such compensation from the funds appropriated to and available for the department.