Salient achievements of Ministry of Labour and Employment during the last two years

Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India organized “VIKAS PARV”, an exhibition on two years developments and seminar on various schemes to highlight the achievements of the Central Government in the Labour and Employment Sector during the last two years on 4th June, 2016 at Kotla Vijaybhaskar Reddy Indoor Stadium, Yousufgude, Hyderabad.

Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, His Excellency, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Government of India presided over the function. Shri Nayini Narasimha Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Home, Prisons, Fire Services, Sainik Welfare, Labour & Employment, Govt. of Telangana also graced the function as guests of Honour. Besides this, the function was also graced by many other dignitaries from Ministry of Labour & Employment with active participation.

During the last two years, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has launched many new initiatives in tune with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s approach of ‘Reform to Transform’. The key priority areas are employment generation, ensuring job security, wage security and social security to the workforce of the country, bringing transparency and accountability in enforcement of Labour Laws and above all upholding the dignity of labour. Efforts are also made to promote industrial activity through “Make in India’, enhancing employability through ‘Skill India’ and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship through ‘Start up India’.

Salient achievements of Ministry of Labour & Employment during the last two years:

Expansion of ESI Scheme & Health Services

During the last two years, ESIC has extended ESI coverage to new areas across the country, improve the medical service delivery system, extending coverage in the 393 districts across the country, launching of IT initiatives under ‘Project Panchdeep’ etc

*Manipur and Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands covered under ESI Scheme. Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur are to be covered soon.

* All 681 districts of the country to be brought under ESI coverage by December, 2016.

* Opening of Health Scheme for selected group of unorganised workers like auto rickshaw drivers on pilot basis in Hyderabad and Delhi

*Extended ESI coverage and benefits to Construction Workers in the implemented areas from 1st August, 2015.

* Facilities for Cancer, Cardiology, Dialysis, Dental, CT Scan, MRI and ICU facilities introduced on PPP model in ESIC Hospitals and also Pathology and X-Ray facilities in ESIC Dispensaries.

* AYUSH and Yoga introduced in ESIC Hospitals and introduced facility for telemedicine.

*Resolved to set up two Model Hospitals and one Super Speciality Hospital in each state

* Launched ESIC-2.0 Reform Agenda with facilities for changing bed sheets every day in ESIC Hospitals, Online Electronic Health Records, 24x7 Medical Helpline, special OPD for sr. citizens and differently-abled persons and grading of Hopitals based on performance.

* As a part of Digital Initiative, launched Aadhar linked e- Pehchan Card, integrated ESIC services with e-Biz Portal, Launched Public Grievance Module 2.0 for lodging grievances online and launched a dedicated website www.esichospitals.gov.in

Legislative Reforms

Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015 - Amended Bonus Act has been brought for increasing the eligibility limit from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 21,000 and bonus calculation ceiling limit from Rs. 3500 to Rs. 7000.

Labour Codes
Ministry of Labour and Employment have initiated codification and rationalisation of the provisions of 43 Labour Laws in 4 Labour Codes viz. Labour Code on Wages, Labour Code on Industrial Relations, Labour Code on Social Security & Welfare and Labour Code on Safety & Working Conditions in process .

Administrative Initiatives/ Decisions
*Minimum Pension of Rs. 1000 per month in perpetuity approved in April, 2015.

* EDLI Benefit raised from 3.6 lakh to 6 lakhs

* Time limit reduced to 20 days from 30 days for EPF claim settlement

* Revised the scheme for rehabilitation of Bonded Labour and increased the financial assistance from Rs. 20,000/- to Rs. 3 lakhs. The disabled, female and children rescued from trafficking, sexual exploitation will get Rs. 3 lakhs, whereas the females and minors will get Rs. 2 lakhs and normal adult male bonded labour will get Rs. 1 lakh.

Governance Reforms through Technology

* Launched Unified Web Portal Shram Suvidha Portal on 16.10.2014 to bring transparency and accountability in enforcement of labour laws and ease complexity of compliance. It caters to four major organisations viz. Office of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Directorate General of Mines Safety, EPFO and ESIC.

Main features of the Portal:

*Unique Labour Identification Number (LIN) allotted to 10.48 lakh units as on 25.5.2016
* Online filing of simplified Single Unified Annual Return instead of filing separate returns under 9 Labour Acts.
* Transparent Labour Inspection Scheme through computerised system on risk based criteria and uploading the inspection reports within 72 hours by the Labour Inspectors.
* Common Electronic Challan-cum- Return facility for EPFO & ESIC, Common registration under 5 Central Labour Acts by integrating with e-Biz Portal and also facility of return submission under Mines Act for DGMS on Shram Suvidha Portal.

Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
*Introduced the facility for Online registration of establishments (OLRE) to apply for allotment of PF Code Number.
*Moved from e-governance to m-governance and launched mobile application and with a missed call at 011-22901406 members can get all the envisaged details

*Facilities to international workers - Government is committed to ensure social security of the persons working in India and also those coming to India and going abroad. Towards this, a facility was launched for the international workers for online form seeking certificate of coverage (COC).

Transforming Public Employment Services
National Career Service (NCS) - Public Employment Service Platform
*Government of India is implementing National Career Service (NCS) Project for transforming and strengthening the public employment services in the country with an aim to bring job seekers, employers and training providers on a common platform with efficient use of information technology.

* Over 3.5 crore candidates and 9 lakh establishments having Labour Identification Number registered on the Portal.

* NCS provides a variety of services like job matching, career counselling, skill development courses, internships etc . and establish 100 Model Career Centres in collaboration with the States and other Institutes.

Improving Employability of the Workforce
*24 Coaching – cum- Guidance Centres (CGSs) established in various parts of the country for providing vocational guidance, counselling services , training in computer courses , coaching scheme for competitive examinations/ selection tests for Group ‘C’ Posts for SCs/ STs.

* During the last two years, provided vocational guidance and counselling to around 3.8 lakh SC/ST candidates, secretarial practice offered to 34,000 candidates, special coaching scheme offered to 2,600 candidates and 6,000 candidates pursued computer courses.
Vocational Rehabilitation Centres (VRCs)

* 21 VRCs established in various parts of the country and integrated with NCS Portal. During the last two years, around 56,000 persons with disabilities were assessed/ evaluated and guided for employability skills and 19,000 persons were placed with various organisations.

Eradication of Child Labour

Eradication of Child Labour is a priority and to address the issue, Government has proposed to amend the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 with the objective of complete prohibition on employment of children below 14 years and linking the age of prohibition with the age under Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education, Act, 2009. The amendment also intends to make the punishment for employers more stringent and make the offence cognizable for employers on employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act.