Lok Sabha Question No. 116 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Job Loss due to Financial Crisis
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami, Chandeshwar Prasad

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.116

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th JULY, 2021

## Job Loss due to Financial Crisis

## 116.    SHRI DULAL CHAND GOSWAMI: SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of serious job loss due to financial crisis of industries during Corona pandemic in industrial sector in Bihar and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of employment happened in industrial sector for the last three years;
- (c) the details of job lost in this sector during the said period; and
- (d) the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

(a) to (d): The COVID-19 pandemic followed by lockdowns has affected the nation including the state of Bihar. Government has taken several initiatives to address the challenges in various sectors including industrial sector due to the pandemic. Financial package of more than rupees twenty seven lakh crore under 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' has been launched, inter-alia, to create employment opportunities for migrant workers, workers of organized and unorganized sector, strengthening of MSME sector and promoting rural economy. It includes a number of initiatives for all these sectors.

Annual  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  on  employment  and  unemployment  is conducted  by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics  and  Programme Implementation. As per the results of annual PLFS, the worker population ratio for persons of 15 years and above on usual status (principal status + subsidiary status) basis in the country including industries sector to the extent available during 2017-18 and 2018-19 was 46.8% and 47.3%, respectively.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched w.e.f. 1st October, 2020 to  incentivize  employers for  creation  of  new  employment  along  with social security  benefits and restoration of employment. This scheme being implemented through EPFO seeks to reduce the financial burden of the employers and encourages them to hire more workers. Under ABRY, Government of India is providing for a period of two years, both the employees' share (12% of wages)  and  employers  share'  (12%  of  wages)  of  contribution  or  only  employees'  share  of contribution    depending  on  employment  strength  of  the  EPFO  registered  establishments,  for new employees whose monthly wage is less than Rs. 15,000/- per month. The new employees under the scheme includes those who have lost their employment during Covid-19 pandemic and did not join any EPF covered establishment upto 30.09.2020.

Earlier  Pradhan  Mantri  Rojgar  Protsahan  Yojana  (PMRPY)  was  launched  to  incentivise employers for creation of new employment. Under the scheme, Government of India is paying Employer's contribution i.e. 12% for a period of three years to the new employees earning upto Rs. 15,000/through EPFO. The terminal date for registration of beneficiary through establishment was 31st March 2019. The beneficiaries registered upto 31st March, 2019 will continue to receive the benefit for 3 years from the date of registration under the scheme i.e. upto 31st March, 2022.

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 in the post COVID period.

RBI  and  Government  of  India  have  introduced  measures  to  infuse  liquidity  in  the economy to sustain the market economy and raise level of employment.

Pradhan  Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is being implemented by the Government inter alia,  for  facilitating  self-employment. Under PMMY collateral free loans upto Rs. 10 lakh, are extended  to  micro/small  business  enterprises  and  to  individuals  to  enable  them  to  setup  or expand their business activities

Besides  above,  to  enhance  the  employment  generation,  Government  is  encouraging various projects involving substantial investment and through public expenditure on schemes like Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS),  Pt.  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Deendayal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) run by Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, respectively.

Besides  these  initiatives,  flagship  programmes  of  the  Government  such  as  Make  in India, Digital India, Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Housing for All, Infrastructure development and Industrial corridors have the potential to generate productive employment opportunities.

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