Question : Labour Welfare

(a)the number of workers/labourers working in unorganized sector in the country, State/UT-wise;
(b)whether the Government is implementing any scheme for the safety
and welfare of these workers and if so, the details thereof along with the number of workers benefitted therefrom, State/UT-wise;
(c)the details of funds sanctioned, released and utilised under these schemes during each of the last three years and the current year, scheme-wise and State/UT-wise;
(d)whether the Government has conducted/proposes to conduct any study/survey on the conditions of the workers in their workplace;
(e)if so, the details and the findings thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve their overall conditions including safety, health and working conditions at workplaces; and
(f)whether any specific healthcare scheme exclusively for the unorganized sector labour force is being implemented in the country and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a): As per the survey carried out by the National Sample Survey Organisation in the year 2011-12, the total employment in both organised and unorganised sector in the country was 47 crores. Out of this, about 8 crores were in the organised sector and the balance 39 crores in the unorganised sector.

Contd..2/-

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(b) & (c): In Order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector, the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008. The 2008 Act stipulates 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. The details of welfare schemes being implemented for the unorganised workers including the State/UT wise number of persons benefited during the last three years and the current year and the amount of funds allocated/utilised under these schemes as available, State/UT-wise are at Annexure-I.
Further, Central Government has also launched the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana for all citizens especially targeting unorganised workers to provide them comprehensive social security.

(d) & (e): The labour laws generally provide for working conditions of workers. However, there is no general study/survey on the conditions of work at workplace in respect of the unorganised workers as a whole.

(f): The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a centrally sponsored scheme to provide health insurance coverage to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and 11 occupational categories of Unorganized Workers (MGNREGA Workers, Construction Workers, Domestic workers, Sanitation Workers, Mine Workers, licensed Railway Porters, Street Vendors, Beedi Workers, Rickshaw Pullers, Rag Pickers and Auto/Taxi drivers), which include migrant workers. Each family enrolled in the scheme is entitled to hospitalization benefits of upto Rs. 30,000 per annum including maternity benefits on a family floater basis (a unit of five) in government empanelled hospitals (includes both private and public).

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