New Delhi: Union Minister for Labour & Employment Shri Bhupender Yadav addressed the Plenary Session of the 110th International Labour Conference (ILC) of ILO at Geneva, today.
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| 280 Million Workers Created With More Than 400 Occupations Of Workers |
Following is the statement of the Minister, delivered at the ILC:
“India has in recent years, introduced technology and simplified systems with the objectives that each worker enjoys dignity and choice of employment with social security. Our Government is providing a unique Universal Account Number to each worker whether in the formal or in the informal sector to act as a portable identity for the continued enjoyment of rights at work.
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For evidence-based policy making and to ensure last-mile delivery of services to the workers, the Government of India, has launched surveys on employment demand, migrant and domestic workers to address the specific needs of such workers in the country.
Workers in the formal sector in India are served by two major tripartite organizations called the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation. Both these organizations serve all kinds of social security benefits including medical treatment, pension, maternity benefits, unemployment, etc.
Comprehensive institutional framework
India has a comprehensive institutional framework to provide for decent work. Indian Parliament has recently passed four labor Codes subsuming 29 Central Labour laws which have modernized and simplified the labor laws and have taken into account the future of work and issues of informal sector workers.
In view of the emerging platform economy, gig and platform workers have been given rights to avail of social security benefits for the first time through the setting up of a dedicated Social Security Fund. Adequate arrangements for financing such schemes for informal sector workers have been made by way of contributions from the Central Government, Provincial Governments, Aggregators, and penalties collected.
To address the concerns of informal sector workers, a digital portal in August 2021 was launched to register such workers with the intention to develop a national database. About 280 million workers’ database has already been created with more than 400 occupations of workers. The database would lead to better dissemination of social welfare schemes for informal workers.
Free delivery of food and food grains
During Covid-19, India not only provided free vaccination to its entire population but also extended free delivery of food and food grains, health services, and assured employment. Under Mahatma Gandhi's National Rural Employment Guarantee program, about 72 million households availed of work under the scheme from April 2020 to March 2021 alone.
During this period, a new Scheme was started to incentivize employers to create new jobs and to re-employ those who lost their jobs during the pandemic period by paying from the budget shares of both employees and employers at the rate of 12% of wages. In the same period, cash transfers were made directly to the bank accounts of 200 million women during the Covid-19 pandemic period.
About 3.2 million street vendors were provided collateral-free loans to help them resume their businesses under Swanidhi Scheme.
The female labor force participation rate
India has made significant reforms to improve the female labor force participation rate. The duration of maternity leave increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. Provisions for ‘work from home’ and crèche facilities have been made in establishments with 50 or more employees by amending the existing Act.
To facilitate safe and orderly migration and for totalization benefits, India supports the signing of labor mobility agreements (LMA) and the social security agreements (SSA). I am happy that ILO is in support of India’s move and also taken positive steps in this direction.”