Lok Sabha Question No. 1415 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Labour Laws and Social Security of Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1415 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## LABOUR LAWS AND SOCIAL SECURITY OF LABOURERS

†1415. SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  taken  several  remedial  measures related to labour laws and several policy measures related to social security of labourers during the last three years;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  State  Government  of  Maharashtra  has  worked  for providing desired assistance in the implementation of these policy measures to ensure proper livelihood of the labourers; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b):  The  Ministry  has  taken  a  number  of  legislative  as  well  as governance initiatives during the last 3 years for the protection of the interests of labourers.  Some  of  the  important  initiatives  are  as follows:-
- Amendment  to  the  Payment  of  Bonus  Act,  1965  by  which eligibility limit for payment of bonus enhanced from Rs 10000/- to Rs. 21000/- per month and the Calculation Ceiling from Rs. 3500/-
-  to Rs. 7000/- or the minimum wages.
-  Payment of Wages (Amendment) Act, 2017 enabling payment of Wages to  employees  by  Cash  or  Cheque  or  crediting  it to  their bank account.

- Amendment  Act, 2016 provides for complete ban on employment of children below
-  Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) 14 years in any occupation or process.
-  Maternity  Benefit  Amendment  Act,  2017, increases  the  paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
-  The  Employee  Compensation  (Amendment)  Act,  2017  seeks  to rationalize  penalties  and  strengthen  the  rights  of  the  workers under the Act.
-  Shram Suvidha Portal, launched by the Government on 16.10.2014,  operates  a  transparent  risk  based  Online  Labour Inspection Service for effective enforcement of Labour Laws.

(c) & (d): 'Labour' is a concurrent subject, therefor, the main responsibility for enforcement of the provisions of the various Labour Acts  lies with  the  Central  and  the  State  Governments  /  Union Territories in relation to the establishments falling in the Central and State Sphere respectively. In cases, where the State Governments are 'appropriate  authorities',  the  enforcement  of  the  provisions  of  the Labour Acts is done by the officials of State Labour Departments. The State  Governments,  including  Government  of  Maharashtra,  in  their respective  jurisdiction  implement  various  policy  measures,  including recent ones, as provided under various Labour Laws and rules made thereunder.  Inspections  are  also  done  by  the  State  Government  to enforce  the  provisions  of  the  various  Labour  Laws  so  as  to  ensure wage security, job security, social security and various other safety, health  and  welfare  measures  which  facilitate  proper  livelihood  for labourers.

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