Lok Sabha Question No. 334 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Demand of Labour
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAJ KUMAR SAINI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 334 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## DEMAND OF LABOUR

- *334. SHRI RAJKUMAR SAINI:

## Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether  any  study  has  been  conducted  by  experts  in  the  sector  to ascertain the demand of labour, if so, the details and the findings thereof; (b)the details of the specific programmes which have been enunciated by the Government to help labourers  in  empowering  themselves  and  improving their earnings; (c)whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  emulate  Haryana  which  has implemented a labour policy to enhance both employment and earnings; (d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (e)the steps being taken by the Government for the welfare and betterment
- of labourers in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  No.  334*  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  19.03.2018  BY  SHRI RAJKUMAR SAINI REGARDING 'DEMAND OF LABOUR'

(a) to (e): Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  through  Labour  Bureau  has conducted  5  Annual  Employment-unemployment  surveys  up  to  2014-15, which  inter-alia  gives  data  on  Labour  Force  Participation  Rate,  Worker Population Ratio and Unemployment Rate in the country.

Ministry of Labour and Employment through its various legislation and governance measures is empowering the labourers of the country to enhance their  earnings.    Various  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  the betterment and welfare of the labourers in the country in this aspect are as below:

1. The  Payment  of  Wages  Act,  1936  -  enhancing  the  wage  ceiling  for applicability  of  the  Act  -  In  exercise  of  the  power  conferred  by  subSection  (6)  of  Section  1  of  the  Act,  the  Central  Government  has enhanced the wage ceiling from Rs. 18,000/- to Rs. 24,000/- per month.
2. Model Shops and Establishment Bill, 2016 - This Bill being an advisory to the States for shops/establishments employing 10 or more workers aims  to  give  freedom  to  operate  365  days  in  a  year  and  decide  the opening/closing time. This will give a boost to employment opportunities.
3. Minimum  Wages-  Minimum  wages  for  all  sectors  -  agricultural,  nonagricultural, construction etc. have been increased to Rs. 523, Rs. 437 and Rs. 350 in A, B, C areas categories respectively.
4. Enhancement  of  wage  ceiling  for  coverage  under  ESI  Act,  1948  has been increased from Rs. 15000/- to Rs. 21000/- w.e.f. 1st  January 2017.
5. Maternity  Leave  has  been  increased  to  26  weeks  and  provisions  of maternity  benefits  have  also  been  extended  to  commissioning  and adopting mothers.
6. National Career Service Portal: has been launched for transforming and strengthening the public employment service in the country
7. Establishment  of  100  Model  Career  Centers  under  National  Career Service project.

8. Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY): is aimed to incentivize employers for new employment wherein Government will be paying the 8.33% contribution for this new employment for a period of 3 years.
9. Revised  Integrated  Housing  Scheme,  2016:  For  workers  registered under Labour Welfare Organizations i.e. Beedi workers, The Iron Ore Mines, Manganese Ore Mines and Chrome Ore Mines workers, Limestone  &  Dolomite  Mines  workers,  mica  mines  workers  and  Cine workers, a housing subsidy of Rs. 1.5 lakh is given.
10. Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education & Development  (DTNBWED)  plays  a  significant  role  in  empowering  the workers  through  its  various  training  programmes  for  the  workers  of formal and informal sectors at National, Regional and Unit levels.  It contributes in creation of an enlightened and disciplined workforce and bringing about desirable behavioral changes.
11. V.  V.  Giri  National  Labour  Institute  also  conducts  a  number  of capacity  building  programmes  amied  to  empower  the  workers.    In addition,  it  also  organizes  leadership  development  programmes  for Beedi workers, domestic workers, fisheries workers, plantation sector.
12. The  Government  through  the  Directorate  General  of  Labour Welfare provides a number of facilities for the Beedi workers such as:
6.  Health care facilities through hospitals  and dispensaries
7. 
8. Financial assistance for education of wards of the workers

It  is  a  constant  endeavor  of  the  Government  to  adopt  best  practices from not only in the country, including that of Government of Haryana, but also internationally. The Central Government through its advisories to  the  State  Governments  requests the  State  Governments to amend also their Labour Acts accordingly. Haryana Government has undertaken a number of initiatives as other State Governments.

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