Lok Sabha Question No. 2365 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Social Security for Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: JAYSHREEBEN  PATEL, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA, NATUBHAI GOMANBHAI PATEL, SRINIVAS KESINENI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2365

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## SOCIAL SECURITY FOR LABOURERS

## †2365. SHRIMATI JAYSHREEBEN PATEL:

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

SHRI NATUBHAI GOMANBHAI PATEL:

SHRI KESINENI NANI:

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

- (a)whether the Government proposes to bring a new welfare and social security scheme for labourers of unorganised sector and if so, the details and salient features thereof;
- (b)whether the proposed labour reforms would also motivate industrialist, enhance employment opportunities for labourers and if so, the details in this regard;
- (c)whether the Government proposes to regularise those unorganised labourers  working  for  more  than  10  years  in  various  Government and  private  sectors  and  if  so,  the  number  and  details  of  such workers, State/UT-wise along with the steps taken/proposed to be
- taken to regularise such workers;
- (d)whether the Government has extended any scheme for pensions to workers of the unorganised sector and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)the  various  ongoing  schemes  for  the  safety  and  health  and  for improving  the  working  condition  of  labourers  including  contract labourers in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The  Government  has  enacted  'Unorganised  Workers'  Social Security Act, 2008' for the welfare of unorganised workers. The salient features of the Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act, 2008 are:

-  Registration of  Unorganised workers and issuance of Identity Card by the District Administration which shall be a smart card carrying a unique identification number and shall be portable.
-  Formulation  of  schemes  by  the  Central  Government  for  different sections of unorganised workers on matters relating to (a) life and disability  cover;  (b)  health  and  maternity  benefits;  (c)  old  age protection  (d)  any  other  benefit  as  may  be  determined  by  the Central Government.
-  Formulation  of  schemes  relating  to  provident  fund,  employment injury  benefits,  housing,  educational  schemes  for  children,  skill upgradation,  funeral  assistance  and  old  age  homes  by  the  State Governments.
-  Constitution of National Social Security Board under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Member Secretary  and  34  nominated  members  representing  Members  of Parliament, unorganised workers, employers of unorganised workers, civil society, Central Ministries and State Governments.
-  Section  6  has  provision  for  constitution  of  similar  Boards  at  the State level.
- (b) & (c): Reforms in Labour Laws are an ongoing process to update legislative system to address the need of the hour to make them more effective and contemporary to the emerging economic and industrial scenario. Such reforms help in catalyzing the creation of employment opportunities in the country, without diluting basic aspects of safety, security and health provision of workers.
- (d): The Government has recently launched Atal Pension Yojana mainly  targeting  unorganised  workers.  Under  the  APY,  subscribers would  receive  a  fixed  minimum  pension  of  Rs.  1000  per  month,  Rs. 2000 per month, Rs. 3000 per month, Rs. 4000 per month, Rs. 5000 per month, at the age of 60 years, depending on their contributions, which itself would  vary on the age of joining the APY.  The  Central Government would also co-contribute 50 percent of the total contribution  or  Rs.  1000  per  annum,  whichever  is  lower,  to  each eligible subscriber account, for a period of 5 years, the benefit of fixed minimum pension would be guaranteed by the Government.
- (e): 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. JananiSurakshaYojana. (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).

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