The Centre is likely to bring two separate bills for the unorganised sector, with the one relating to working conditions being left out for the time being.

A group of ministers recommended that the government should bring the bill on welfare schemes including health insurance and pension schemes for the 30 crore workers in the forthcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

But as far as the working conditions of the unorganised sector workers are concerned, like their working hours or the issue of paid offs, these would be taken care of later by another bill.

The Unorganised Sector Workers Social Security Bill, 2007, is supposed to provide social security measures to 93 per cent of the workforce in the country. It has already been approved by the cabinet.

The GoM has also suggested some amendments into the pension scheme, as it would now be extended  to all persons below poverty line, who have attained a certain age.

It would be similar to the pension scheme for the destitutes, where a monthly amount of Rs 400 is provided to the beneficiary with the Centre contributing half the amount.

The pilot scheme, which was scheduled to be introduced from the next financial year, was also supposed to benefit the mine workers registered with the Labour Welfare Organisation of the Union ministry of labour and employment.

It was also expected that cine workers registered with the same department and autorickshaw drivers in the state capitals would benefit from the scheme.

The scheme was supposed to provide pension/provident fund to workers on attaining the age of 58 years.

As part of the health insurance scheme, the workers and their families could get medical treatment in government hospitals and in selected networked private hospitals with the cost not exceeding Rs 30,000 (approx) per family of five members in a year.

The pilot project is likely to be launched in 30 districts across the country from April 2008. It would cover all the BPL (Below Poverty Line) families without charging anything from them.

Assuming the cost of premium for each household per year would be Rs 600, it would be around Rs one lakh for each district. The total financial implications for the entire scheme for the first year would be about Rs 180 crore.

The total cost would be shared by the Centre and the states at 75:25 ratio.