Lok Sabha Question No. 833 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Welfare Scheme for Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Mahesh Sahoo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 833 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## WELFARE SCHEME FOR WORKERS

- †833. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRI MAHESH SAHOO:

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

- (a)whether the Government has formulated any welfare scheme for the gig workers in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government proposes to take policy initiatives on the Right to Moonlight as a flexible work culture in industries, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)whether  the  Government  will  update  the  House  on  the  centrally funded  social  welfare  schemes  for  labourers  in  the  unorganised sector taken up the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The  Government  has  formulated  the  Code  on  Social  Security, 2020 which envisages framing of suitable social security schemes for gig  workers  and  platform  workers  on  matters  relating  to  life  and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age  protection,  etc.  However,  these  provisions  under  the  Code  have not  come  into  force.  The  Government  has  also  launched  e-Shram portal on 26.08.2021 for registration and creation of a Comprehensive National Database of Unorganized Workers including gig workers and platform workers. It allows a person to register himself or herself on the portal on self-declaration basis, which is spread across around 400 occupations.

- (b): To provide for conditions of service and other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith for the Service Sector, Manufacturing Sector and Mining Sector, the Central Government has published three draft Model Standing Orders under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 for stakeholders comments in the official gazettee on 31 st  December, 2020,  which  inter-alia  provide  that  'a  worker  shall  not  at  any  time work against the interest of the industrial establishment in which he is employed and shall not take any employment in addition to his job in the industrial establishment, which may adversely affect the interest of  his  employer,  but,  the  employer  may  permit  him  to  take  up additional job,  assignment with conditions or without conditions and the worker shall obtain prior permission of the employer.'
- (c): The Government has in the year 2019 launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) scheme in order to provide old age protection in the form of monthly assured pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years to the workers of unorganized sectors. It is  a  voluntary  and  contributory  pension  scheme.   The  workers  in  the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs. 15,000/- or less and not a member of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation/Employees' State Insurance Corporation/National Pension System  (Government  Funded)  are  eligible  to  join  the  scheme.  The premium  ranges  from  Rs.  55/-  to  200/-  depending  on  the  age  of  the beneficiary.  Under  the  scheme,  50%  monthly  contribution  is  payable by  the  beneficiary  and  equal  matching  contribution  is  paid  by  the Government of India.

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