(a)whether the Government is contemplating expansion of welfare schemes for the labourers and if so, the details thereof;
(b)whether the Government proposes to regularise the services of temporary/casual labourers and if so, the details thereof;
(c)whether rules regarding working hours of such labourers have also been framed;
(d)if so, the details thereof; and
(e)the details with regard to the implementation and monitoring mechanism set up for such schemes?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) to (e): The Ministry of Labour & Employment, through its Labour Welfare Organizations across the country, implements welfare schemes relating to housing, education and health for beedi workers, mica mine workers, limestone & dolomite mine workers, iron ore manganese, chrome ore mine workers and cine workers. These schemes were earlier administered through 5 Welfare Cess and Welfare Funds under various Cess Acts of Parliament. Now, these cesses have been abolished/subsumed in GST and the welfare schemes have been retained with funding from the Consolidated Fund of India. Salient features of these welfare schemes are as follows:
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(i) Revised Integrated Housing Scheme-2016: Subsidy of Rs.1,50,000 for construction of a pucca house is provided to the workers in three installments in the ratio of 25:60:15.
(ii) Education Scheme: Financial Assistance varying from Rs.250 to Rs.15,000 per year is provided to the wards of the workers studying in classes I to XII for pursuing non-professional and professional degree/graduate/post graduate courses.
(iii) Health Scheme: Health care facilities are provided to the workers and their dependents through 12 hospitals and 286 dispensaries under Labour Welfare Organizations (LWO) across the country. In addition, reimbursement of expenditure for specialized treatment taken in Government recognized hospitals, is also provided. These schemes are implemented and monitored by Offices of Welfare Commissioners in 17 LWO regions.
In addition to the above welfare schemes, the Central Government has converged the social security scheme 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 depending upon their eligibility. These converged schemes give coverage of Rs.2 lakhs on death at premium of Rs.330/- per annum and coverage of Rs.2 lakhs on accidental death at premium of Rs.12 per annum, besides disability benefits as per the scheme. The annual premium is shared on 50:50 basis by the Central Government and the State Governments. These schemes are implemented and monitored by Life Insurance Corporation of India and the concerned State Governments.
The working conditions of temporary/ casual workers/daily wagers depend upon the labour laws applicable on the establishment they are engaged. There is no proposal to regularise the services of these workers.
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