question_answer

The following newspaper report was published recently. "With a view to providing social security to unorganized workers, Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said the Unorganized Worker's Social Security Act, 2008 has been enacted. He said there are social security schemes for BPL families, street vendors, workers in the construction and building segment and MGNREGA workers" Can you suggest 3 measures to protect workers in the unorganized sector in urban areas?                           (5)  

Answer:

Some measures which can be taken to protect workers in the unorganized sector can be (i) Strict enforcement of the  mandatory registration of all employers of more than 9 persons, by activating the enforcement teams to visit all such employers and get them registered. Then their employees will become eligible for benefits like Provident Fund, Gratuity etc. Presently there is virtually no enforcement. (ii) They should be covered for loss of life or disability insurance by the public sector insurance companies with payment of a nominal periodic premium. (iii) They should be given subsidized skill up gradation training so that with the passage of time, they can improve their income by taking up trades that are currently in demand.