Lok Sabha Question No. 3598 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-21
Subject: Enhancing Job Opportunities for Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNPURIA, JASVANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR, CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3598

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21ST DECEMBER, 2015

## ENHANCING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR LABOURERS

3598.  SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA: SHRI JASVANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR: SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

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

- (a) the  various  laws  enacted  by  the  Government  for  protection  of  interests  and employment  of  labourers  and  workers  including  the  daily  wagers  in  the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  amended/  proposed  to  amend  the  labour  laws particularly for encouraging industries and thereby enhancing job opportunities especially for such unorganized labourers and daily wagers;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof along with the success achieved in this regard as a result thereof; and
- (d) the measures taken by the Government to ensure continuity in employment for the said workers including the daily wagers?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): There are various legislations for protection of interests and employment of labourers and workers including  the daily wagers in the country.

The salaries/wages of employees are covered under various provisions of Acts like the Minimum  Wages  Act, 1948,  Payment of Wages  Act, 1936 and Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, both the Central Government and the State Governments are the appropriate Government to fix,  revise,  review  and  enforce  the  payment  of  minimum  wages  to  workers  in respect of scheduled employments under their jurisdictions.

The employment of contract labour is mainly governed by provisions of Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 and rules of 1971. Further, worker also get benefits under various social welfare legislation like  Employees  State Insurance Act, 1948, Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, Employees Compensation Act, 1923, Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996.

The enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is ensured at two levels. While in the Central Sphere, the enforcement is done through the inspecting officers of the  Chief  Labour  Commissioner  (Central)  commonly  designated  as  Industrial Relations  Machinery  (CIRM),  the  compliance  in  the  State  Sphere  is  ensured through the State Enforcement Machinery.

Equal Remuneration Act, 1973 provides for payment of equal remuneration to men and  women  workers  for  the  same  work  or  work  of  similar  nature  without  any discrimination.  The Factories Act, 1948 and The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006 also has provisions for safety of workers in the factories.

In  order  to  ensure  social  security  to  the  workers  in  the  unorganised  sector,  the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008.

Reform in labour laws is an ongoing process to ensure that they meet the changing requirements of the economy, society and workers at large, both in the organized and unorganized sector.

Further, to bring transparency and accountability in the enforcement of the labour laws  Central  Agencies,  Shram  Suvidha  Portal  (SSP)  has  been  launched  which provides for unique labour identification number (LIN) for each establishment. The portal  provides  for  transparent  web-based  inspection  system  which  removes arbitrariness and discretion in inspection. Further, the portal provides for unified single  online  return  under  8  Acts.  Also,  work  is  in  progress  for  common  online registration  under  5  Central  Labour  Acts  by  integration  with  e-Biz  Portal  of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP).

As part of Shram Jayate Karyakram, EPFO has allotted Universal Account Number (UAN) to ensure complete portability of accounts of the members.

The number of prosecution launched for violation of labour laws by the officers of the organization of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) for all regions including backward regions for the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 are given below:

| Activity                    |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |
|-----------------------------|-----------|-----------|
| No. of prosecution launched |     10621 |     11860 |

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