Lok Sabha Question No. 96 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Welfare of Workers in Private Sector
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Rodmal Nagar, Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 96

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2024

## WELFARE OF WORKERS IN PRIVATE SECTOR

96. SHRI RODMAL NAGAR: SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  is  considering  any  new  scheme  to provide minimum wages to private sector workers and if so, the
- details thereof;
- (b)the scheme being implemented by the Government for workers of the unorganized sector;
- (c)whether any health related scheme for workers of the unorganized sector  is  being  implemented  or  under  consideration  by  the Government and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)the  other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  welfare  of workers working in rural areas, particularly in aspirational districts of the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The  Minimum  Wages  Act,  1948,  provides for fixing minimum rates of wages in scheduled employments including those in  the  private  sector.  Both  the  Central  Government  and  the  State Governments are appropriate Governments to fix, review and revise the minimum wages in scheduled employments in their respective jurisdiction  and  the  minimum  rates  of  wages  so  fixed  are  equally applicable to both public and private sector.
- (b) to (d): The Government is implementing the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act (UWSS), 2008, to provide social security to unorganized workers by formulating suitable welfare schemes on the  matters  relating  to:  (i)  life  and  disability  cover;  (ii)  health  and maternity benefits; (iii) old age protection; and (iv) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government.

Life and disability cover is available under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima  Yojana  (PMSBY)  based  on  contribution  made  by  subscriber. PMJJBY is available to the people in the age group of 18 to 50 years and it provides for risk coverage Rs. 2.00 lakh in case of death, due to any reason, at an annual premium of Rs. 436/-. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) is available to the people in the age group of 18 to 70 years with risk coverage of Rs 2.00 lakh in case of accidental death or total permanent disability and Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial permanent disability on payment of annual premium of Rs. 20.

The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) provides an annual health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per eligible family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

In  order  to  provide  old  age  social  security  cover,  the Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme in 2019. It provides monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. The unorganized workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs.15000/or less and who are not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS (Govt. funded) can join the PM-SYM Scheme. Under this scheme 50% of the monthly contribution  is  payable  by  the  beneficiary  and  equal  matching contribution is paid by the Central Government.

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