Unorganised Labour Initiatives and Migrant Workers Children Welfare

• 16 Dec 2023

For Prelims: Unorganised Labour, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, India’s migrant workers, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY).

For Mains: Migration centric policy, Unorganised Labour in India and Related Initiatives

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The Ministry of Labour & Employment recently highlighted measures designed to safeguard the interests of unorganised labour in a written response presented in the Rajya Sabha.

• Additionally, the ministry addressed welfare facilities for the children of migrant workers.

What are the Highlighted Initiatives Related to Unorganised Labour?

• Life and Disability Cover:
  • Provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).
    • PMJJBY:
      • Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of death of insured, due to any reason, at an annual premium of Rs. 436/-.
    • PMSBY:
      • Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of accidental death or total permanent disability and Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial permanent disability due to accident at a premium of Rs. 20/- per annum.
• Health and Maternity Benefits:
  • The health and maternity benefits are insured through Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) under deprivation and occupation criteria.
  • It provides health insurance coverage up to Rs. 5.00 lakhs per family for secondary and tertiary care-related hospitalization.
• Old Age Protection:
  • To provide old age protection to unorganised sector workers, the Government of India launched a pension scheme in 2019 namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) to provide a monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years to unorganized workers.
• Other Schemes:
  • Public Distribution System through One Nation One Ration Card scheme under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013.
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,2005.
  • Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana.
  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
  • Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Rojgar Yojana.
  • Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana.
  • Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana.
  • Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi).
  • Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

Note

• Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, mandates the Government to provide Social Security to the workers of the unorganized sector by formulating suitable welfare schemes on matters relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection etc.
  • The term unorganized worker has been defined under the Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act, 2008, as a home-based worker, self-employed worker or a wage worker in the unorganized sector.
  • As per the survey carried out by the National Sample Survey Organization in the year 2011-12, the total employment in both organized and unorganized sectors in the country was of the order of 47 crore. Out of this, about 39 crore are in the unorganized sector.

What are the Welfare Facilities for Children of Migrant Workers?

• Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services) Act, 1979:
  • The act protects the interests of migrant workers. The act provides for registration of certain establishments employing Interstate Migrant Workers, licensing of contractors etc.
    • Workers employed with such establishments are to be provided payment of minimum wages, journey allowance, displacement allowance, residential accommodation, medical facilities, protective clothing etc.
• Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009:
  • It mandates the appropriate Government to provide free and compulsory elementary education to every child aged 6 to 14 years in a neighbourhood school, which is also applicable to children of inter-state migrant workers.