| The
Union Cabinet today gave its approval for the following
for social security for the Unorganised Sector Workers:
(i)
Welfare
schemes for workers in the unorganized sector will be
introduced in a phased manner to fulfill the commitment
made in the National Common Minimum Programme.
(ii)
The
Government shall constitute a National Advisory Board
to design, from time to time, suitable welfare schemes
for different sections of unorganized workers and recommend
the same to the Government
(iii)
On
the recommendations of the National Advisory Board,
the Central Government will, from time to time, notify
scheme or schemes for one or more sections of unorganized
workers.
(iv)
The
schemes notified by the Central Government will contain
provisions for:
(a)
life
and disability cover;
(b)
health
benefits;
(c)
old
age protection; or
(d)
any
other benefit that will be decided by the Central Govt.
(v)
A
Bill will be introduced in the Parliament as early as
possible for this purpose.
The Bill would provide for setting up a National
Advisory Board and enable the Central Government to
notify welfare schemes from time to time.
(vi)
Apart
from designing model schemes for workers in unorganized
sector, the National Advisory Board shall monitor the
implementation of all notified welfare schemes; ensure
that every eligible worker in the unorganized sector
is registered and receives an identity card; oversee
the record keeping functions performed the district
level and the State level;
(vii)
The
Bill will also provide for constitution of a State Level
Advisory Board by the State Government concerned.
(viii)
The
procedure for registering the workers in the unorganized
sector will be prescribed and implemented. Every worker in the
unorganized sector shall be eligible for registration
subject to the following conditions:
(a)
he/she
should have completed 18 years of age;
(b)
he/she
should make a self-declaration affirming that he/she
is a worker in the unorganized sector;
(ix)
Every
registered worker in the unorganized sector shall be
issued an identity card which shall be a smart card. It shall carry an unique
identification number and shall be portable.
(x)
The
record keeping agency for this purpose shall be the
district administration.
However, the State Government will direct that
the record keeping function shall be performed by:
(a)
The
District Panchayat in rural areas, and
(b)
Urban
Local Bodies un urban areas.
It would facilitate formulation of social security
schemes for the unorganized sector workers.
BACKGROUND:
According
to the survey conducted by the National Sample Survey
Organization (NSSO) in 1999-2000, the total employment
in both the organized and the unorganised sectors in
the country was 39.7 crore, of which 2.8 crore are in
the organized sector and 36.9 crore (about 93%) are
in the unorganised sector. Of this, 23.7 crore workers
are in the agricultural sector and 1.7 crore are engaged
in construction sector. Remaining workers are engaged
in mining, manufacturing and service sector. On account
of their unorganised nature, these workers do not get
adequate social security and welfare.
Some
welfare schemes are being implemented by the Central
Government for specific occupational groups of unorganised
sector workers such as beedi workers, non-coal mine
workers, cine workers, handloom weavers, fishermen,
etc. These are apart from the National old Age Pension
Scheme and National Rural Health Mission. Some of the
State Governments have also been implementing welfare
programmes for certain categories of the unorganised
sector workers. Some NGOs are also providing social
security to certain categories of workers. Despite all
these efforts, there is a deficit in the coverage of
the unorganised sector workers in the matter of labour
protection and social security measures.
The
National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has accorded high
priority to the matter of ensuring the welfare and well-being
of workers, particularly those in the unorganised sector
such as agricultural workers, construction workers,
beedi workers, handloom workers leather workers, etc. |
