Lok Sabha Question No. 1007 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-08
Subject: Job Loss in Organised and Unorganised Sector
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1007 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH   FEBRUARY, 2021

## JOB LOSS IN ORGANISED AND UNORGANISED SECTOR

1007. MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

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

- (a) the  details  of  job  loss  in  organised  and  unorganised  sector  during  COVID-19 pandemic, State-wise;
- (b) the  details  of  Government  initiatives taken  to  mitigate the  impact  of  job  loss during this period;
- (c) the details of ESI funds available with the Government;
- (d) the quantum of money spent on labourers affected due to COVID-19 pandemic from ESI funds;
- (e) whether the Government has given any grant or relief to labourers from ESI fund to support labourers during lockdown; and
- (f) if so, the details of the amount of the relief given?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## ANSWER (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (f) : The Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic followed by lockdowns has affected economies across the globe including India. COVID-19 has resulted in large number of migrant workers going back to their native places. Government has taken several initiatives to address the challenges and threats posed by Covid-19.

Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  Rozgar  Yojana  (ABRY)  Scheme  has  been  launched  to incentivize  creation  of  new  employment  alongwith  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 including MSMEs and encourages them to hire more workers. Under ABRY, the Government of India is crediting  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. To boost employment  and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning  to  villages,  in  the  wake  of  COVID-19  outbreak,  Government  of  India  has launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) on 20th June 2020. Total employment  generated  (in  persondays)  under  the  GKRA  as  on  02-02-2021  is 507868671. Government of India under 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. 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/-. Under the PMGKY scheme Rs 2567.66 crore was credited in EPF accounts of 38.82 lakhs eligible employees. 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. ESIC provides relief to the insured persons(IP) in contingency of unemployment under Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana under which cash relief  is paid for a period of maximum 90 days, provided the IP was in insurable employment for  at  least  two  years  before  being  unemployed.  The  scheme  which  was  initially implemented  on  a  pilot  basis  for  a  period  of  two  years,  came  into  force  on 01.07.2018. ESI  Corporation  has  extended  this  scheme  for  another  one-year  i.e.  from 01.07.2020 to 30.06.2021, with enhanced quantum of relief  from 25 % to 50% of the average daily earning and relaxation of eligibility conditions for the Insured Persons who became unemployed 24.03.2020 onwards. ESIC  invests  its  funds  as  per  the  investment  policy  approved  by  ESI Corporation in line with the instructions issued by Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India. ESIC has invested Rs.16,976.78 crore in Special Deposit Account (SDA) maintained by  Govt. of India. ESI Scheme is implemented as per provisions of ESI Act,1948 and is funded is deposited in the 'ESI Fund'. No grants of Central Government are received by ESIC. All expenditure towards providing cash benefits and medical benefits are made from

by contributions received from covered employers and employees, which ESI Fund by ESIC.

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