Lok Sabha Question No. 2955 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Minimum Wages to Workers in Private Sector
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Durga Das Uikey, Gajendra Singh Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2955 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## MINIMUM WAGES TO WORKERS IN PRIVATE SECTOR

†2955. SHRI DURGA DAS (D.D.) UIKEY: SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH PATEL:

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

- (a)whether any scheme is under consideration to provide minimum wages  to  the  workers  in  the  private  sector,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b)the details of schemes being implemented by the Government for workers of the unorganized sector;
- (c)whether any health related scheme for workers of the unorganized sector  is  under  consideration  with  the  Government,  if  so,  the
- details thereof;
- (d)the  details  of  schemes  being  implemented  for  the  welfare  of workers working in rural areas; and
- (e)whether  any  new  scheme  is  proposed  for  labour  welfare  in
- aspirational districts, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(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.  Under  the  Code  on Wages, 2019, minimum wages fixed by the appropriate Governments are applicable across all employments in public and private sectors, and organized and unorganized sectors. The provisions of the Code on Wages Act, 2019, relating to minimum wages have not come into force.

(b) to (e): 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  provided  through  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 corresponding to 1949 treatment procedures across 27 specialties.

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.

The Government has launched e-Shram portal in August, 2021  to  create  National  Database  of  Unorganised  Workers  and  to facilitate delivery of social security schemes/welfare schemes to the unorganised  workers.  As  on  02.08.2023  more  than  28.99  crore unorganised workers have been registered on e-Shram portal.

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