Bill on unorganised sector to be tabled next session

Conceding to persistent Left demands for welfare of workers in the unorganised sector

Conceding to persistent Left demands for welfare of workers in the unorganised sector, the Government today decided to introduce a legislation during the Monsoon Session of Parliament to provide social security to such workers. The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, approved the Labour Ministry’s proposal in this regard.

The Bill, to be introduced on the first day of the monsoon session, will have provisions for life and disability insurance, health insurance and old age protection for workers in the unorganised sector, who constitute more than 90 per cent of the country’s total 40-crore strong workforce.

The proposed Bill envisages constitution of a National Advisory Board (NAB), which, from time to time, will design and recommend suitable welfare schemes for different sections of unorganised workers. The Bill would also provide for the constitution of state-level Advisory Boards to provide suggestions to State Governments. The National Advisory Board would monitor the implementation of all notified welfare measures, ensure registration of all eligible workers and oversee the record keeping at the district panchayat, urban local bodies and state levels.

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“It is revolutionary scheme, a key programme of the NCMP aimed at taking care of the most vulnerable sections of the unorganised sector workers,” said Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi while briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting today. Dasmunsi added that the Bill would enable the Centre to notify welfare schemes from time to time, for which all the unorganised sector workers would be registered and provided with identity cards from the Government.

However, what may not please the Left parties is the Government decision to introduce welfare schemes suggested by the National Advisory Board in a phased manner. Implementation in a phased manner addresses the Centre’s fiscal burden.

As per the 1999-2000 survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation, the total employment in both organised and unorganised sectors was 39.7 crore, of which 36.9 crore workers are estimated to be in the unorganised sector. Although there exist some welfare schemes for specific groups like beedi workers, non-coal mine workers, cine workers, handloom weavers and fishermen, majority of unorganised workers are not covered by any kind of social security from the Government. The proposed Bill will fill this gap in the country’s social safety net.

Centre sanctions Rs 550-crore for skill development

NEW DELHI: The “skill development initiative” announced by the Centre in Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s Budget speech in February 2005 is finally set for implementation after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared Rs 550 crore Central assistance for it today. The scheme is aimed at training school leavers and existing workers to improve their employability by acquiring skill sets through short-term modules based on industry demand. The initiative aims to train a million workers in the first five years, after which the one million workers will be trained every year. To begin with, 1,896 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 3,218 private centres affiliated to the National Council for Vocational Training will participate as Vocational Training Providers. Nearly 175 modules of employable skills have already been designed as per industry and labour market demands and 95 more are being worked out, sources told The Indian Express.