Workers in Forest Produce-Based Industries

The Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the term ‘unorganized worker’ has been defined under the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008 as a home-based worker, self-employed worker or a wage worker in the organized sector and includes a worker in the organized sector who is not covered by any of the Acts mentioned in Schedule-II of this Act i.e. (i) The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 (8 of 1923), (ii) The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), (iii) The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), (iv) The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952 (19 of 1952), (v) The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (53 of 1961) and The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of 1972). 

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that Government has already taken various steps to provide social security for the unorganized workers. Some of these schemes are listed as under: 

1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. (Ministry of Rural Development) 

2. National Family Benefit Scheme. (Ministry of Rural Development) 

3. Janani Suraksha Yojana. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) 

4. Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. (Ministry of Textiles) 

5. Handicraft Artisans’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. (Ministry of Textiles) 

6. Pension to Master Craft Persons. (Ministry of Textiles) 

7. National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen and Training and Extension. (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries) 

8. Janshree Bima Yojana and Aam Admi Bima Yojana. (Department of Financial Services). 

9. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. (Ministry of Labour and Employment).