Social Security (Unorganised)
Labour Laws · असंगठित क्षेत्र सामाजिक सुरक्षा · 18 facts
Unorganised sector: Approximately 90%+ of India's total workforce (450+ million workers) is in unorganised/informal sector; lack formal contracts, job security.
Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008: Mandates welfare schemes for unorganised workers; home-based workers, self-employed workers, daily wages covered.
e-Shram Portal: Launched August 2021; national database of unorganised workers; Aadhaar-linked registration; provides PMSBY accidental insurance of Rs 2 lakh.
e-Shram registrations: 280 million+ workers registered (2023); covers construction, domestic workers, street vendors, farmers, home-based workers.
NCLP (National Child Labour Project): Rehabilitates child labourers; provides education and vocational training; convergence with schools to mainstream rescued children.
National Floor Wage: Rs 178/day (2023); minimum guaranteed to all workers; states must match or exceed; reduces wage exploitation in informal sector.
PMSYM (PM Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan): Pension scheme for unorganised workers earning < Rs 15,000/month; Rs 3000/month pension after age 60; 50% contribution government, 50% worker.
PM-SYM for traders (NPS Traders): Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-Dhan Yojana; similar pension scheme for small traders and self-employed with turnover < Rs 1.5 crore.
BOCWA 1996 (Building and Other Construction Workers Act): Welfare cess at 1-2% on construction cost; state Welfare Boards provide insurance, medical, pension to construction workers.
BOCWA Welfare Fund: Rs 50,000+ crore accumulated; states underutilize it; Supreme Court ordered better utilization; funds for housing, marriages, education of workers' children.
Gig Economy workers: Platform workers (Ola drivers, Swiggy/Zomato delivery partners) — classified as independent contractors; no statutory benefits currently.
Social Security Code 2020 for gig workers: Proposes social security fund for gig/platform workers; aggregators to contribute 1-2% of annual turnover.
MNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS): 100 days guaranteed employment to rural unorganised workers; wages Rs 267/day average (2023); 7-8 crore households annually.
PM-KISAN: Not strictly a labour law, but provides Rs 6000/year income support to small/marginal farmers (< 2 hectares); 11+ crore farmer beneficiaries.
Self Help Groups (SHGs): Empowering unorganised sector women; 12 million SHGs in India; NABARD and NRLM support; average savings Rs 10,000/SHG.
Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976: Abolishes bonded labour/debt bondage; violators imprisoned 3 years; government must identify and release bonded labourers.
Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Act 2014: Protects street vendors from eviction; requires zones for vending; Town Vending Committees for each city.
PM SVANidhi: PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi; micro-credit scheme for street vendors; initial loan Rs 10,000, then Rs 20,000, Rs 50,000 with repayment.