Lok Sabha Question No. 271 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-15
Subject: Jobs/Assistance to Unemployed
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shiromani Ram, Sangeeta Azad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *271 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  MARCH, 2021

## JOBS/ASSISTANCE TO UNEMPLOYED

- *271.  SHRI RAMSHIROMANI VERMA: SHRIMATI SANGEETA AZAD:

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

- (a) the number of workers/ labourers/ educated youth who have lost their jobs  due  to  COVID-19  pandemic  in  the  organized  and  unorganized sectors in the country, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated any plan for providing employment  to  all  these  unemployed  people  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) the number of persons, out of them, who have been provided employment, State-wise and district-wise; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to provide any financial assistance to the persons rendered jobless?

## ANSWER

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

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *271  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  15-03-2021  BY  SHRI RAMSHIROMANI VERMA, SHRIMATI SANGEETA AZAD REGARDING 'JOBS/ASSISTANCE TO UNEMPLOYED'

(a) to (d):The Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic followed by lockdowns has affected economies across the globe including India. Government of India has taken several initiatives to address the challenges and threats posed by Covid-19.

The  Government  is  providing  fiscal  stimulus  of  more  than  rupees  twenty seven lakh crore as part of the Aatmanirbhar financial Package. Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  package  comprises  of  various  long  term  schemes/ programmes/  policies  for  making  the  country  self-reliant  and  to  create employment opportunities for organised and unorganised sectors.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojna (ABRY) Scheme has been launched to incentivize employers for creation of new employment along with social security  benefits  and  restoration  of  loss  of  employment  during  COVID-19 pandemic. This scheme being implemented through the Employees' Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO)  reduces  the  financial  burden  of  the employers of various sectors/industries and encourages them to hire more workers. Under ABRY, the Government of India is bearing  for  a  period  of two years, both the employees' share (12% of wages) and employers' share (12%  of  wages)  of  contribution  payable  or  only  the  employees'  share, depending on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments. The status of registration of beneficiaries as on 28.02.2021 is given below

| No. of establishments registered   | No.of new employees registered   | Amount of benefit   |
|------------------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------|
| 1.83 lakh                          | 15.30 Lakh                       | Rs. 186.34 Crore    |

Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), Government has contributed  both  12%  employer's  share  and  12%  employee's  share  under Employees  Provident  Fund  (EPF),  totaling  24%  of  the  wage  for  the  wage month from March to August, 2020 for  the establishments having upto 100 employees  with  90%  of  such  employees  earning  less  than  Rs.  15000/-. Under the PMGKY scheme Rs 2567.66 crore was credited in EPF accounts of 38.82 lakh eligible employees.

The  unemployment  benefit  under  the  Atal  Beemit  Vyakti  Kalyan Yojana being implemented by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has been enhanced to 50% from 25% of the average wage, payable upto  90  days,  alongwith  relaxation  of  eligibility  conditions  to  claim  the benefit. To boost employment and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning  to  villages,  in  the  wake  of  COVID-19  outbreak,  Government  had launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) on 20th June 2020 for six states.  50,78,68,671persondays  employment  has  been  generated  in  six states under the GKRA. Government  has  earmarked  an  additional  Rs.  40,000  crore  under MGNREGS  to  generate  nearly  300  crore  person  days  in  total  addressing need for more work including returning migrant workers. MGNREGA wage has been increased to Rs. 202 a day from Rs. 182 to benefit 13.62 crore families. PM-SVANidhi  Scheme  has  facilitated  collateral  free  working  capital loan upto Rs.10,000/- for one-year tenure to street vendors, to resume their businesses.

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