LABOUR REFORM MEASURES
- The Apprentice Act 1961 was amended on 18.12.2014 to make it more responsive to industry and youth. The Apprentice Protsahan Yojana was also launched to support MSMEs in the manufacturing sector in engaging apprentices. Government is also working affirmatively to bring a single uniform law for the MSME sector to ensure operational efficiency and improve productivity while ensuring job creation on a large scale.
- A unified labour portal scheme called ShramSuvidha Portal has been launched for timely redressal of grievances and for creating a conducive environment for industrial development. Its main features are:
- Unique Labour Identification Number (LIN) allotted to around 0.7 million units facilitating online registration;
- filing of self-certified, simplified single online return instead of 16 separate returns by industry;
- Transparent labour inspection scheme via computerized system as per risk-based criteria and uploading of inspection reports within 72 hours by labour inspectors.
- Under Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Project Panchdeep: Digitization of internal and external processes to ensure efficiency in operations, especially services to employers and insured persons. The portal enables employers to file monthly contributions, generate temporary identity cards and create monthly contribution challans online, issue of pehchan card for insured persons for fast and convenient delivery of services. Through the IP Portal, insured persons can check contributions paid/payable by employers, family details, entitlement to various benefits, and status of claims. Integration of its services will promote ease of business and curb transaction costs.
- Under Employees Provident Fund (EPF): Digitization of complete database of 42.3 million EPF subscribers and allotment of universal account number (UAN) to each member, which facilitates portability of member accounts. UAN is being seeded with bank account, Aadhar Card and other KYC details to promote financial inclusion. Direct access to EPF accounts will enable members to access and consolidate previous accounts. Online pensioners can view their account and disbursement details online. The statutory wage ceiling under the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF&MP) Act was enhanced to Rs. 15000 per month from 01.09.2014. A minimum pension of Rs.1000 has been introduced for pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 w.e.f 01.09.2014.
- For Unorganized Workers:The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a scheme under the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act 2008. It is a smart card-based cashless health insurance scheme, including maternity benefit, which provides a cover of Rs 30,000 per family per annum on a family floater basis to below poverty line (BPL) families in the unorganized sector. It is proposed to extend the RSBY to all unorganized workers in a phased manner.
- A National Council for Vocational Training-Management Information System (NCVT-MIS) portal has been developed for streamlining the functioning of Industrial Training Institutes (ITI), Apprenticeship Scheme, and assessment/certification of all NCVT training courses.
- The National Career Service(NCS)is being implemented as a mission mode project to transform the National
- Employment Service and provide various job-related services such as online registration of job seekers and job vacancies, career counselling, vocational guidance, and information on skills development courses, internships, and apprenticeship.
