Lok Sabha Question No. 59 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Job Loss in Organised/Unorganised Sector
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Deepak (Dev) Adhikari, Krupal Balaji Tumane, Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 59

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2022

## JOB LOSS IN ORGANISED/UNORGANISED SECTOR

59.   SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK(DEV): SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE: SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  more  than  1.5  million people  have  lost  their  jobs  during  the  last  two  or  three  months  in  the organised and unorganised sectors due to which the rate of unemployment in rural and urban India has increased;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the rate of unemployment has  reached  alarming  levels  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof during the last three years including the current status of unemployment in the Country and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has made any plans to improve such scenario in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a)  to  (d)  :  The  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  collected  through Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  conducted  by  Ministry  of  Statistics  & Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI)  since  2017-18.  As  per  the  latest  available Annual PLFS Report, the year-wise estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above during 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 are given below:

| Years     | Worker Population Ratio (WPR) (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (UR) (in %)   |
|-----------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Rural     | Rural                                  | Rural                           |
| 2018-19   | 48.9                                   | 5.0                             |
| 2019-20   | 53.3                                   | 3.9                             |
| 2020-21   | 55.5                                   | 3.3                             |
| Urban     | Urban                                  | Urban                           |
| 2018-19   | 43.9                                   | 7.6                             |
| 2019-20   | 45.8                                   | 6.9                             |
| 2020-21   | 45.8                                   | 6.7                             |
| All India | All India                              | All India                       |
| 2018-19   | 47.3                                   | 5.8                             |
| 2019-20   | 50.9                                   | 4.8                             |
| 2020-21   | 52.6                                   | 4.2                             |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The data in the above table indicates that unemployment rate has declined whereas  the  worker  population  ratio  has  increased  during  the  year  2020-21  as compared to previous years.

Employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government. Accordingly, the Government of India has taken various steps for generating employment  in the country. The Government  of India has announced Aatmanirbhar Bharat package to provide stimulus to business and to mitigate the adverse impact of Covid 19. Under this package, the Government is providing  fiscal  stimulus  of  more  than  Rupees  Twenty  Seven  lakh  crore.  This package  comprises  of  various  long  term  schemes/  programmes/  policies  for making the country self-reliant and to create employment opportunities.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched with effect from 1st October, 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat package 3.0 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), seeks to reduce the financial burden of the employers and encourages them to hire more workers.  The  terminal  date  for  registration  of  beneficiaries  has  been  extended from  30.06.2021  to  31.03.2022.  Benefits  have  been  provided  to  59.53  lakh beneficiaries through 1.50 lakh establishments till 10.07.2022.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)  is being implemented by the Government  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.  Upto 08.07.2022, 35.94 crore loans were sanctioned under the scheme.

PM  GatiShakti  is  a  transformative  approach  for  economic  growth  and sustainable  development.  The  approach  is  driven  by  seven  engines,  namely, Roads,  Railways,  Airports,  Ports,  Mass  Transport,  Waterways  and  Logistics Infrastructure.  This  approach  is  powered  by  Clean  Energy  and  Sabka  Prayas leading to huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all.

The  Government  has  put  emphasis  on  railways,  roads,  urban  transport, power,  telecom,  textiles  and  affordable  housing  amid  continued  focus  on  the National  Infrastructure  Pipeline.  Budget  2021-22  launched  Production  Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore, for a period of 5 years  starting  from  2021-22.  All  these  initiatives  are  expected  to  collectively generate  employment  and  boost  output  in  the  medium  to  long  term  through multiplier-effects.

The Government of India is encouraging various projects involving substantial investment and public expenditure on schemes like Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY)  and  Deen  Dayal  Antodaya  Yojana-National  Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) etc for employment generation.

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  is implementing the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to enhance the employability of youth.

Besides  these  initiatives,  various  flagship  programmes  of  the  Government such  as  Make  in  India,  Start-up  India,  Stand-up  India,  Digital  India,  Smart  City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Housing for All, Infrastructure  Development  and  Industrial  Corridors  are  also  oriented  towards generating employment opportunities.

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