(a) whether there is a trend to employ workers as contract labourers by an establishment in the country;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor alongwith the approximate number of such workers, sector-wise as on date;
(c) whether these contract workers are not covered under any Medical Insurance Scheme and thus deprived of health benefits;
(d) if so, whether there is proposal to cover them under medical insurance schemes; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE)
(a): Any establishment can employ workers as contract labourers in any job or process until it is prohibited by the appropriate Government under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 as per their requirement and
the nature of the job.
(b): No sector-wise centralized data is maintained. However, as per a study conducted by V.V. Giri National Labour Institute to assess the impact of the proposed amendments to the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, the estimated number of contract labour engaged by licenced contractors as on 31.3.2009 is as below:
(i) In Central sphere = 14 lakhs
(ii) In State sphere = 46 lakhs