Question : Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana

(a) whether the Union Government is considering extending the timeline of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana till March next year from the existing June 30, 2021 and if so, the facts thereof;

(b) the number of newly recruited workers projected for benefit under the scheme and the number of newly recruited workers benefitted under the scheme so far;

(c) whether an employee drawing a monthly wage of less than Rs 15,000 and not working with any establishment registered with EPFO before 1st October, 2020 and not having a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to 1st October 2020 is eligible for the benefit;

(d) if so, the details thereof and whether these employees will get the benefit of the scheme; and

(e) the steps taken to boost employment generation and to give relief to workers grappling with job loss and pay cuts during the pandemic?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a): Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat package 3.0 to incentivize employers for creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during COVID-19 pandemic. The terminal date for registration of beneficiary under the scheme has been extended from 30th June, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.
(b): The ABRY is being implemented by Ministry of Labour & Employment through Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and aims to benefit estimated 71.80 lakh beneficiaries. As on 26.07.2021, benefit of Rs. 1193.18 crore has been provided to 25.57 lakh employees through 91,129 establishments under the scheme.
(c) & (d): An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) before 1st October, 2020 is eligible for the benefit under ABRY. Government is providing for a period of two years, both the employee’s share (12% of wages) and employer’s share (12% of wages) of contribution payable or only the employee’s share, depending on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments.

(e): Government of India has taken a number of initiatives for promoting employment generation during Covid-19 pandemic. Financial package of more than Rs. Twenty seven lakh crore under “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” has been launched inter-alia, to create employment opportunities for migrant workers, workers of organized and unorganized sector, strengthening of MSME sector and promoting rural economy.

Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) implemented by Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has contributed both 12% employer’s share and 12% employee’s share under Employees Provident Fund (EPF), totaling 24% of the wage for the wage month from March to August, 2020 for the establishments having upto 100 employees with 90% of such employees earning less than Rs. 15000/-. This has helped in providing employment in EPFO registered establishments during post Covid period.

Prime Minister Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM- SVANidhi) Scheme launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has facilitated collateral free working capital loan upto Rs.10,000/- for one-year tenure to street vendors, to help them resume their businesses.

Government had launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) of 125 days on 20th June, 2020 to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected persons including youth in rural areas, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic in 116 selected districts across 6 States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The scheme was implemented by Ministry of Rural Development.

RBI and Government of India have introduced measures to infuse liquidity in the economy to sustain the market economy and raise the level of employment.

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