Lok Sabha Question No. 2709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: PF and Health Benefits to Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2709 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## PF AND HEALTH BENEFITS TO LABOURERS

†2709. SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY:

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

- (a)whether the Government has any proposal to provide Provident Fund and health-care  facilities  to  the  labourers  working  in  non-Governmental  and unorganized sectors; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) & (b): Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) provides Social Security in the form of Provident Fund, Pension and Deposit-Linked Insurance to  the  workers  of  the  establishments  to  which  the  Employees'  Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions  (EPF & MP) Act, 1952 applies.

The EPF & MP Act applies to

- (i) to an establishment which is a factory engaged in any industry specified in  Schedule-I of the Act and in which 20 or more persons are engaged; and
- (ii) to  any  other  establishment  employing  20  or  more  persons  or  class  of establishments which the Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify in this behalf.

Therefore,  the  labourers  working  in  non-Government  establishments without making any distinction about organized/unorganized sectors' establishments specified above are coverable under the EPF & MP Act, 1952.

Contd..2/-

Further,  Employees'  State  Insurance  (ESI)  Scheme  is  applicable  on factories and establishments in the implemented area employing 10 or more persons and is applicable on employees earning wages upto Rs.21,000/- per month, as per the ESI Act, 1948.

It has also been the constant endeavour of the Government to ensure that the unorganised workers get social security benefits as available to the workers  in  the  organised  sector.  With  this  objective,  the  Government  is implementing the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008. The said Act  stipulates  formulation  of  suitable  welfare  schemes  for  unorganised workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits,  old  age  protection.  Various  Ministries/Departments  of  the  Central Government  are  implementing  such  social  security  schemes  like  Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme; National Family Benefit Scheme; and Health & Maternity Benefit Scheme.

In addition to the above welfare schemes, the Central Government has recently converged the social security schemes of Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY)  with  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY)  and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to provide life and disability coverage  to  the  unorganised  workers  for  the  age  group  of  18  to  50  years depending upon their eligibility. The annual premium is shared on 50:50 basis by  the  Central  Government  and  the  State  Governments.  The  converged schemes give coverage of  Rs.2  lakhs on  death  at  premium  of  Rs.330/-  per annum  and  coverage  of  Rs.2  lakhs  on  accidental  death  and  disability  at premium of Rs.12 per annum, besides disability benefit as per scheme. These converged schemes are being implemented by the Life Insurance Corporation of India.

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