Lok Sabha Question No. 2592 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Social Secutiry Benefits for Unorganised Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Ms Iqra Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2587 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

## LABOUR WELFARE SCHEMES IN DHUBRI

2587. MD. RAKIBUL HUSSAIN:

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

- (a)whether specific labour welfare schemes are being implemented in the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency of Assam to ensure workers' well-being, particularly in sectors like agriculture, tea gardens, and construction, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government is ensuring the effective enforcement of labour laws in Dhubri, particularly concerning workers' rights, fair wages, safety, and social security benefits, if so, the details thereof along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  any violations;
- (c)the details of measures being taken by the Government to support migrant  workers  and  vulnerable  groups  in  Dhubri,  particularly regarding healthcare, housing, legal assistance; and
- (d)whether  migrant  workers  and  vulnerable  groups  in  Dhubri  are being registered for social security benefits and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a) to (d): The Government implements various welfare schemes for unorganised  workers,  including  those  engaged  in  agriculture,  tea gardens, and construction across India, including Dhubri district of Assam. Key schemes include Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya  Yojana  (AB-PMJAY)  for  healthcare,  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima Yojana (PMSBY) for life and accident insurance, and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PMSYM) for pension benefits. Additionally, workers  benefit  from  the  One-Nation-One-Ration-Card  Scheme  for food security, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for housing, and skill development initiatives such as Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a employment Scheme.

In  addition,  plantation  workers  are  also  covered  under Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 implemented by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Tea Plantation  workers  in  Assam  are  covered  under  the  Assam  Tea Plantation Provident Fund Scheme,1955. The Plantations Labour Act has been subsumed in the Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

The working conditions of the tea plantation workers are governed  by  Plantations  Labour  Act,  1951.  The  Act  requires  the employers to provide the workers with Housing, Medical facilities, Sickness and Maternity Benefits and other forms of social security majors. There are provisions for educational facilities for Children, Drinking  Water,  Conservancy,  Canteens,  Creches  and  recreational facilities  for  the  benefit  of  the  workers  and  their  families  in  and around the work places.

The  Government  has  enacted  the  Building  and  Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service)  Act,  1996  [BOCW  (RE&CS)  Act,  1996]  to  regulate  the other construction workers. The Act provides for their safety, health and welfare  measures  and  for  other  matters  connected  therewith  or employment  and conditions of service of building and incidental thereto.

The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services) Act, 1979 has been enacted to  protect  the  interest  of  migrants  workers.  The  Act  provides  for registration of certain establishments employing Inter-State Migrant workers,  licensing  of  Contractors  etc.  Workers  employed  in  such establishments  are  to  be  provided  payment  of  Minimum  wages, Journey allowances, Displacement allowances, residential accommodation, medical facilities and protective clothing etc. This Act  has  been  subsumed  in  the  Occupational,  Safety,  Health  and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

Labour being a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India, where both the Central & State Governments are competent to enact legislation and enforce Labour Laws as per their respective jurisdictions.

Ministry of Labour & Employment launched eShram portal on  26th  August,  2021  for  creation  of  a  comprehensive  National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), including migrant workers,  seeded  with  Aadhaar.  Registration  on  eShram  on  selfdeclaration basis. As on 10.03.2025, over 30.70 Crore unorganized workers including migrant workers, are registered on eShram portal.

As  per  Budget  Announcement,  the  eShram -'One -StopSolution' was launched on 21st October 2024. eShram 'One -StopSolution'  entails  integration/mapping  of  different  Social  Security/ Welfare schemes  at single portal i.e., eShram. This enables unorganised  workers,  including migrant workers  registered on eShram,  to  access  13  social  security  schemes  and  see  benefits availed by them so far, through eShram;- including PMSBY, PMJJBY, Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY), Prime  Minister  Street  Vendors  Atma  Nirbhar  Nidhi  (PM-SVANidhi), PMAY  (Urban  &  Rural),  NSAP -National  Family  Benefit  Scheme (NFBS),  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Programme  (MGNREGA),  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana (PMMSY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  Scheme  (PM Kisan).

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