Lok Sabha Question No. 310 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-21
Subject: Welfare of Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 310 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2015

## WELFARE OF LABOURERS

†*310. SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

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

- (a)whether the Government proposes to expand welfare schemes for the labourers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government also proposes to regularize the services of temporary/casual labourers and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether rules regarding the working hours for such labourers have also been formulated; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof along with the details of the mechanism in place for the implementation and monitoring of the said schemes?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *                                                     ********

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 310 FOR ANSWER ON 21.12.2015 RAISED BY SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY REGARDING WELFARE OF LABOURERS.

(a) The Government of India has set up a robust social security and welfare platform  for  labourers  both  in  organised  and  unorganised  sector.  While  the labourers  in  organised  sector  are  comprehensively  covered  by  Employees Provident Fund Organization and the Employees State Insurance Corporation, the  workers  in  unorganised  sector  are  provided  social  security  and  other welfare  benefits  as  enshrined  in  the  'Unorganised  Workers'  Social  Security Act, 2008'. This 2008 Act provides for formulation of suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers on 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 through the National Social Security Board. Various Social Security Schemes, formulated by the Government  to  provide  social  security  cover  to  the  unorganized  workers, listed in the Schedule I of the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008 are as under:

- i. Indira  Gandhi  National  Old  Age  Pension  Scheme.  (Ministry  of  Rural Development)
- ii. National Family Benefit Scheme. (Ministry of Rural Development)
- iii. Janani Suraksha Yojana. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
- iv. Handloom Weavers' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. (Ministry of Textiles)
- v. Handicraft Artisans' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. (Ministry of Textiles)
- vi. Pension to Master Craft Persons. (Ministry of Textiles)
- vii. National  Scheme  for  Welfare  of  Fishermen  and  Training  and  Extension. (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries)
- viii.  Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana. (Ministry of Labour and Employment)
- ix. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)

(b)   Regularization of services of temporary and casual labourers is governed by the rules of the specific establishment in which they may be working/engaged. It also depends on terms and condition of employment and the Acts/Rules which apply to such labourers.

(c) & (d) The rules regarding working hours for temporary/casual labourers and the  monitoring  mechanism  in  respect  thereof  vary  from  establishment  to establishment in accordance with the nature of work, working conditions for such workers and the Acts or Rules by which they are governed.

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