Lok Sabha Question No. 1361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Data on Migrant Labourers/Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1361

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## DATA ON MIGRANT LABOURERS/WORKERS

1361. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  data/figures  on  number  of  migrant
- laborers/workers living in Delhi and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  steps  for  the  welfare  of migrant workers in Delhi and India and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)whether  the  Government  is  working  towards  portability  of  social security schemes for migrant workers across Country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The  total  number  of  Migrant  Labourers/Workers  living  in Delhi are 20,29,489 as per Census 2011.
- (b) & (c): In order to safeguard the interests of the migrant workers, the Central Government had enacted the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979. This Act  has  now  been  subsumed  in  the  Occupational  Safety,  Health  and the Working Conditions (OSH) Code. The OSH Code provides for decent working conditions, minimum wages, grievance redressal mechanisms, protection from abuse and exploitation, enhancement of skills and social security to all categories of workers including migrant workers.

Migrant workers are engaged in various occupations. Government of India has launched   several social security and welfare schemes for workers including migrant workers. Some of the prominent schemes are as follows;

Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY)  and Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima  Yojana  (PMSBY)  launched  in  2015 provide for life & disability  cover due to natural or accidental death. Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Man  Dhan  Pension  Scheme  (PM-SYM) launched  in  2019  provides  for  old  age  social  security  in  the  form  of monthly pension. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)  launched  in  2018  provides  Rs.5  lakh  health  coverage  for secondary and tertiary health benefits to those migrant workers who are covered as eligible beneficiaries as per deprivation and occupation criteria. PM-SVANidhi Scheme  facilitates collateral free working capital loan of upto Rs.10,000/- for one-year tenure to street vendors. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana caters to the housing needs of all eligible beneficiaries.  During  Covid  -  19  pandemic  period  since  March,  2020, Union  Government  has  taken  several  additional  measures  for  the benefit of workers, such as; creation of 39.51 lakh new job opportunities  by  crediting  Rs.2583  crores  in  EPF  accounts  under Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY), benefits of Rs.2567 crores to retain 38.91 lakh low wage employees under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan  Yojana  (PMGKY),  financial  assistance  of  Rs.7413  crore  to Building & other Construction Workers (BOCW), unemployment benefit under  Atal  Beemit  Vyakti  Kalyan  Yojana  (ABVKY),  Pradhan  Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (PMGKRA)  generating 50.78 crore mandays with Rs.39,293 crores, free food grain of 5 kg per person per month to all Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) beneficiaries and special training programme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana  (PMKVY)  Scheme  as  a  part  of  Garib  Kalyan  Rojgar  Abhiyaan (GKRA) in the districts having high concentration of returnee migrants. One  Nation  one  Ration  Card  Scheme  has  facilitated  portability  of provisions  of  ration  through  PDS  shops  across  the  country  for  the migrant workers and their families.

Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has  launched  eSHRAM portal,  a  National  Database  of  the  Unorganised  Workers  on  26th August,  2021.  It  has  been  made  available  to  the  States/UTs  for registration  of  unorganised  workers  including  migrant  workers.  The main objective of the e-SHRAM portal is to create a national database of  unorganised  workers  seeded  with  Aadhaar.  It  shall  also  facilitate delivery of Social Security and welfare Schemes to such workers. The portal also aims to facilitate portability of benefits of welfare schemes to  the  migrant  workers.    As  on  20.07.2022,  more  than  27.99  crore unorganised workers have been registered on this portal.

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