'Social security benefits to unorganised sector'

Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge on Wednesday informed Rajya Sabha that the government has initiated steps to provide social security benefits to workers in the unorganised sector.

With a view to provide social security to unorganised workers the Unorganised Worker's Social Security Act, 2008 has been enacted, he said during question hour.

As per a government survey carried out in 2009-10, there were 43.7 crore people employed in the unorganised sector. The Act provides for constitution of National Social Security Board at the central level to recommend schemes related with life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection and any other benefit for unorganised sector workers.

"The government has initiated steps in the context of all these social security benefits," the Minister said. There are social security schemes for BPL families, street vendors, workers in the construction and building segment and MNREGA workers.Some of the social security schemes for workers in the unorganised sector include, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, Aam Admi Bima Yojna and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, he added.