MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a): As per the Worker Census 2011, the number of female workers in the agriculture sector, comprising of cultivators and agricultural labourers, is 9,76,37,199 against the total workforce of 48,18,88.868, which constitute 20.26% of the total workforce in the country.
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(b): The ‘unorganized worker’ has been defined under the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008 as a home-based worker, self-employed worker or a wage worker in the unorganized sector and includes a worker in the organized sector who is not covered by any of the Acts mentioned in Schedule-II of this Act. As such all unorganised workers engaged in agriculture sector are covered under the Act.
(c): The data in respect of workforce-wise contribution in national income is not maintained. However, in 2013-14 the combined Agriculture, forestry & fishing sector contribution to national income is around 17.2%.
(d): The enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is secured at two levels. While in the Central Sphere, the enforcement is secured through the officers of the Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM), the compliance in the State Sphere is ensured through the State enforcement machinery. The officers of these machineries are appointed as Inspectors under the provisions of the Act. They conduct regular inspections and in the event of detection of any case of non-payment of minimum wages, they advise the employers to make payment of the shortfall of wages. In case of non-compliance of advices of inspectors, there are provisions of prosecutions in the Act against the defaulting employers.
(e) & (f): The Government has enacted “Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008” for the welfare of unorganised workers which includes women farm workers. The 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. The schemes formulated by the Government so far to provide social security cover to the unorganized workers including women farm worker and being managed by the respective Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are listed in the Schedule I of the above Act as under:
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i. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development)
ii. National Family Benefit Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development)
iii. JananiSuraksha 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. Janshree Bima Yojana and AamAadmi Bima Yojana (Ministry of Labour and Employment).
ix. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
The Act also enjoins upon State Governments to formulate schemes relating to (a) provident fund; (b) employment injury benefits; (c) housing; (d) educational schemes for children; (e) skill up gradation of workers; (f) funeral assistance; and (g) old age homes.
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