Question : Safety of Unorganised Workers

(a)the measures taken by the Government to bring unorganized labour into the economic mainstream;
(b)whether there is a proposal to gradually shift farm labourers into organized labour sector and if so, the details regarding the same;
(c)the measures taken by the Government to improve security at workplace including society of courier boys carrying huge loads on two wheelers, etc. and also whether any guideline/regulation has been made to address the issue;
(d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e)the number of unorganized labourers who have joined social welfare schemes and the roadmap to improve the inclusion of unorganized labourers into social security net and also plan to regularisation of such workers including the said courier boys?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b): Section 10 of the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act 2008, inter alia provides for issuance of a nationally portable smart card carrying a unique identification number to the unorganised workers including farm labourers to help them avail the benefits of various social security schemes being implemented by the Central Government and the States/UTs. The task of issuance of Smart Card is vested in the District Administration. Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) is mandated to give directions to State Governments in respect of matters relating to the implementation of the provisions of this Act.
Contd..2/-



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(c) & (d): The workers working in the organised sector get security cover as per their eligibility under the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Act (1923), the Industrial Dispute Act (1947), the Employees’ State Insurance Act (1948), the Building and Other Construction Workers Act (1996), Employees’ Deposits Linked Insurance Scheme (1976), etc. and those workers working in the unorganised sector are covered under various social security schemes listed in the Schedule I of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008.
(e): According to the survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) during 2011-12, the total employment in the unorganised sector in the country was about 39 crores. The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008 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 through the National Social Security Board. Various Schemes, formulated by the Government to provide social security cover to the unorganized workers, listed in the Schedule I of the above Act are as under:
i. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development)
ii. National Family Benefit Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development)
iii. Janani Suraksha 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 Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (Ministry of Labour and Employment).
ix. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).

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