On: 08 FEB 2024 – As per the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, the Government is mandated to provide Social Security to the workers of unorganized sector by formulating suitable welfare schemes on matters relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection etc. In order to provide old age protection, the Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) Pension Yojana in 2019.  The unorganised workers who are mostly engaged as home-based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washer men, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers, own account workers, agricultural workers, construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers, audio- visual workers and similar other occupations, may join the scheme. It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme.

It provides monthly minimum assured pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. The workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs. 15000/- or less can join the PM-SYM Scheme.  Further, he should not be a member of New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and he should not be an income tax payee. As on 25.01.2024, total 49,77,736 beneficiaries have been enrolled in the country which includes  1,35,777  from the State of Karnataka.

Also, Life and Disability cover is provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). Risk coverage under PMJJBY scheme is for Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of death of insured, due to any reason, at annual premium of Rs. 436/-.

The PMSBY is also available to the people in the age group of 18 to 70 years with a bank/post office account. The risk coverage under the scheme is for 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.

Further, 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 upto Rs. 5.00 lakhs per family for secondary and tertiary care related hospitalization.

Other schemes such as Public Distribution System through One Nation One Ration Card scheme under National Food Security Act, Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kausal Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Rojgar Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, PMSVANidhi, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana etc. are also available for the unorganized sector workers including labourers depending upon their eligibility criteria.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Rameshwar Teli in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Compensation in case of death/injury of unorganised construction workers

The Central Government is committed to provide entitled benefits to the building and other construction workers. Compensation is provided to workers/families of the unorganized workers, employed in Building and Other Constructions works, as per the welfare schemes framed and administered by the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board of the States/UTs, where the workers are registered as beneficiary.

The provisions of compensation in case of death/injury of unorganised construction workers are also dealt under the Employees Compensation Act, 1923 and the Employee State Insurance Act, 1948. The enforcement and implementation of employee compensation act lies with workmen compensation commissioner notified by respective state government and the ESI Act, 1948 implement by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, which is under the administrative jurisdiction of Ministry of Labour and Employment.

In Central Sphere, the number of accidents, injured, death and compensation provided to the BOC workers, State/UT-wise, for the last five (05) years are attached as Annexure-I.

The Central Government maintains the data in respect of Indian workers, holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports and proceeding for overseas employment through e-Migrate portal to 18 ECR countries. In order to ensure welfare of these workers, Government has been effectively implementing Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) as a mandatory insurance scheme. The PBBY scheme provides an insurance cover of 10 lakh in case of accidental death or permanent disability and other benefits, at a nominal insurance premium of INR. 275/- (for two years) or INR. 375/- (for three years). The coverage and benefits under the PBBY are as under:

1. Maximum sum for which insurance is made under the PBBY: INR 10 lakhs.
2. Hospitalization (medical expenses) covering injuries/sickness/ailment/diseases: INR.1,00,000/-(Rs.50,000/-per hospitalization) whether in India/third country or in the country of employment.
3. Repatriation covers for medically unfit: Actual one way economy class airfare upto nearest international airport in India.
4. Cost of transportation of mortal remains to India in case of death abroad.
5. Family hospitalization in India: INR.50,000 per annum during policy period.
6. Maternity: INR. 35,000 (normal delivery) or INR. 50,000 (Caesarean Section Operation);
7. Attendant: Actual one way economy class air fare upto nearest international airport in India; and
8. Legal expenses: INR. 45,000.

As per the data available with the Ministry of External Affairs, year-wise number claims settled by the empanelled Insurance Companies under PBBY including claims in respect of unorganized construction workers is given in the table below:

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ANNEXURE-I

*Note: Data as received from Office of Chief Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India.

*Note: Data as received from Office of Chief Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India.

*Note: Data as received from Office of Chief Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India.

*Note: Data as received from Office of Chief Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India.

*Note: Data as received from Office of Chief Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Rameshwar Teli in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

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