Lok Sabha Question No. 130 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Employment Opportunities in Public and Private Sector
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sougata Ray

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 130 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  JULY, 2021

## EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR

130. PROF. SAUGATA RAY:

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

- (a) the  State-wise  details  of  loss  of  employment  opportunities  in  public sector and private sector in the country due to the pandemic;
- (b) the steps taken to generate more employment opportunities in the country in public and private sector; and
- (c) the steps taken to implement new welfare schemes for the unemployed in the country?

## ANSWER

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

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

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

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojna (ABRY) Scheme has been launched with effect  from  1st  October  2020  to  incentivize  creation  of  new  employment  along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment. This scheme reduces 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 employer's share (12% of wages)  of  contribution  payable  or  only  the  employees'  share,  depending  on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments. The new employees under the scheme include those who lost their jobs during Covid-19 and didn't join in  any  EPF  covered  establishment  upto  30.09.2020.  The  terminal  date  for registration of beneficiary under the scheme has been extended from 30th June, 2021 to 31st March, 2022. As on 12th July 2021, total benefit of around Rs.993 crores has been given through 84,390 establishments covering more than 22 lakh

beneficiaries. Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), Government of India 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/-.  This  has  helped  in providing employment in EPFO registered establishments during post Covid period. PM-  SVANidhi  Scheme  has  facilitated  collateral  free  working  capital  loan upto Rs.10,000/- for one-year tenure to street vendors, to help them resume their businesses during the post Covid period. Statutory  PF  contribution  of  both  employer  and  employee  was  reduced  to 10%  each  from  existing  12%  each  for  all  establishments  covered  by  EPFO  for three months i.e. May to July 2020. Besides above, Government has taken various steps for generating employment in the country like encouraging various projects involving substantial investment  and  increasing  public  expenditure  on  schemes  like  Prime  Minister's Employment  Generation  Programme  (PMEGP),  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pt. DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY)  and  Deendayal  Antodaya  Yojana-National  Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). 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 earning, payable upto 90 days, alongwith  relaxation  of  eligibility  conditions  to  claim  the  benefit,  for  insured workers who have lost employment due to COVID-19. In  addition,  RBI  and  Government  of  India  have  introduced  measures  to infuse liquidity in the economy to sustain the market economy and raise the level of employment.

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