Question : Migration in Search of Employment

(a)whether labourers/workers are migrating in and out of the States in search of livelihood and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)the State-wise number of migrated male and female labourers/workers in the country at present, separately;
(d)whether the Government proposes to take any measures to check such migration and if so, the details thereof;
(e)the concrete measures taken by the Government for providing safety, social security and other benefits to migrated labourers/workers; and
(f)whether the Union Government proposes to issue identity card mandatorily to such migrant labourers/workers and if so, the details thereof and the norms adopted/proposed to be adopted in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (c): Labourers/workers do migrate in and out of the States in search of livelihood. The Constitution of India guarantees the right to every citizen to move to and reside in any State/UT in search of Occupation/Job. However, no details/data regarding migration are maintained at the Central level.

(d) to (f): The problems of migration/migrant workers is sought to be addressed through a multi dimensional course of action through rural development, provision of improved infrastructural facilities, equitable dispersal of resources to remove regional disparities, employment generation, land reforms, increased literacy, financial assistance etc. The Government has enacted the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008
Contd..2/-
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to provide for the welfare of unorganized workers including migrant workers on matters relating to: life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits; old age protection and any other benefit as may be determined. In addition, the Central Government has recently converged the social security schemes of Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) with Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to provide life and disability coverage to the unorganised workers including domestic workers for the age group of 18 to 50 years depending upon their eligibility. Converged PMJJBY gives coverage of Rs. 2 lakhs on death at premium of Rs. 330/- per annum while Converged PMSBY gives coverage of Rs. 2/- lakhs on accidental death beside disability benfits as per the scheme at premium of Rs. 12 per annum. These converged schemes are being implemented by Life Insurance Corporation of India. The annual premium is shared on 50:50 basis by the Central Government and the State Governments.In order to safe guard the interests of the migrant workers, the Government has also enacted Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1979 which, inter-alia, provides for payment of minimum wages, journey allowance, displacement allowance, residential accommodation, medical facilities and protective clothing etc. to the eligible inter-state migrant workers.

As per the Unorganized Social Security Act, 2008, the State/District administrations are mandated to issue identity card to unorganised workers including migrant workers.

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