The unorganized sector in India constitutes a significant portion of the workforce, accounting for around 80% of the total workforce. However, workers in this sector face numerous challenges, including low wages, poor working conditions, and a lack of social security measures. To address these issues, several steps have been taken by the Indian government and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to protect the rights of unorganized labor in India. In this blog, we will discuss the steps taken from the inception of the protection of the rights of unorganized labor in India to the current status and the steps taken by the ILO and the Indian government.
The protection of the rights of unorganized labor in India began with the enactment of the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act in 2008. This act aims to provide social security and welfare measures to workers in the unorganized sector. The act recognizes that workers in this sector face numerous challenges and are often left out of the ambit of labor laws and social security schemes. Hence, it provides for the creation of a National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers and various State Social Security Boards.
Steps taken for Improvisation:
The Indian government has taken several steps to protect the rights of unorganized labor in India since the enactment of the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act in 2008. Some of the significant steps taken are:
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): This act provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment to every rural household in India. It aims to provide employment opportunities to unorganized sector workers and ensure that they receive minimum wages for their work.
The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana: This scheme was launched in 2019 and aims to provide a monthly pension of Rs. 3000 to unorganized sector workers who are not covered under any social security scheme.
The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act: This act was enacted in 2017 and provides for the extension of maternity benefits to women working in the unorganized sector. The act mandates that women working in the unorganized sector be provided with paid maternity leave of 26 weeks.
eSharm: The portal for the registration of Unorganized Workers across the Country was launched on 26th August 2021. This portal will help build a comprehensive National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW) in the country. The portal will prove to be a huge boost towards last mile delivery of the welfare schemes for crores of unorganized workers for more than 38 Crore workers. The registration is totally free for the workers.
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020: This code consolidates and amends the laws relating to the occupational safety, health, and working conditions of workers. It aims to provide a safe and healthy work environment for workers, including those in the unorganized sector.
The Social Security Code, 2020: This code consolidates and amends the laws relating to social security benefits for workers. It aims to provide comprehensive social security coverage to workers, including those in the unorganized sector.
The ILO and the Indian government are also been working together to protect the rights of unorganized labor in India. Some of the significant steps taken are:
The ILO’s Technical Cooperation Program: The ILO has been providing technical assistance to the Indian government to help implement its labor laws and policies.
The ILO’s Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth: The ILO has been working with the Indian government to promote decent work for young people in India. The initiative focuses on creating employment opportunities, improving working conditions, and promoting social dialogue.
ILO’s Decent Work Country Program: The ILO has been working with the Indian government to implement its Decent Work Country Program, which aims to promote decent work for all workers in India. The program focuses on four areas: employment creation, social protection, rights at work, and social dialogue.
COVID 19 and Unorganised Labor status:
Workers in the unorganized sector often lack job security and are not entitled to benefits such as paid leave, medical insurance, and retirement benefits. Additionally, the sector is highly fragmented, making it difficult for workers to organize themselves and demand better working conditions.The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the challenges faced by workers in the unorganized sector. The pandemic led to the loss of millions of jobs, with workers in the unorganized sector being hit the hardest. Many of these workers had to bear the brunt of the pandemic without any support from the government, leading to increased poverty and inequality. Here are some statistics that highlight the impact of the pandemic on unorganized labor in India:
Job Losses: According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India lost around 122 million jobs in April 2020, with the unorganized sector accounting for a significant portion of these losses. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that around 81 million jobs were lost in India due to the pandemic.
Wage Losses: According to a survey conducted by the Azim Premji University, around 94% of workers in the unorganized sector experienced a drop in their earnings during the pandemic. The survey found that the average monthly income of workers in the unorganized sector fell from Rs. 9,482 to Rs. 5,884, a decline of around 38%.
Access to Social Security: The pandemic exposed the lack of social security measures for workers in the unorganized sector. According to the Economic Survey 2020-21, only around 10% of workers in the unorganized sector have access to any form of social security, such as health insurance, pension, or maternity benefits.
Migrant Workers: Migrant workers in the unorganized sector were particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. According to the ILO, around 400 million workers in India are employed in the unorganized sector, of which around 100 million are internal migrant workers. The sudden imposition of the lockdown in March 2020 left many of these workers stranded, with no access to food or shelter.
Conclusion:
The protection of the rights of unorganized labor in India is an ongoing process. While several measures have been taken to address the issues faced by workers in this sector, there is still a long way to go. It is essential to ensure that workers in the unorganized sector are provided with fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to social security and welfare measures. This will not only benefit the workers but will also contribute to the overall development of the Indian economy.
References:
https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/unorganised-workers-social-security-act-2008.
https://labour.gov.in/unorganized-workers.
https://eshram.gov.in/.
https://www.india.gov.in/topics/labour-employment/unorganized-sector-workers.
https://www.cmie.com/kommon/bin/sr.php?kall=warticle&dt=2020-05 05%2010:42:07&msec=631.
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