In the fast-evolving employment and economic conditions, Social security for the working population remains a concern that needs to be taken care of proactively
Three committees with representation from five states each have been formed and are tasked to prepare a sustainable model to provide social security coverage to workers. During the two-day workshop, the Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked the states to assess the best practices different states are following and evaluate the possibility of their adoption.
Issues related to social security for all workers, with a special focus on the unorganised sector worker, particularly gig and platform workers, were discussed extensively. Three committees were formed to work on a comprehensive social security plan that can be followed sustainably. The committee is expected to present the model by March 2025, as per the Ministry’s notification.
The minister has put emphasis on the commitment the ministry has to bring reforms through initiatives to ensure the welfare of organised and unorganised workers. A comprehensive social security plan has several components, such as pension, healthcare, life insurance, and accidental coverage, among others.
While social security for all workers, organised and unorganised, was discussed, unorganised sector workers including building and construction workers, contract workers, and gig and platform workers remained in the focus. Also, the transformation route from the role of inspector to inspector-cum-facilitator was discussed. During these two days, states shared the progress in utilising the funds to provide social security, schemes introduced for children of such workers, etc.
As of January 31, 2025, around 30.6 crore people are registered on the eShram portal. The ministry has asked the states to work in a mission mode and get the unorganised sector workers, particularly the gig and platform workers, to register on the eShram portal.
The portal is meant to create a database of unorganised sector workers so that social security and other benefits can be easily provided to them.
Notably, unorganised workers include not only the blue-collar job workers but also the white-collar jobs. According to the portal, “Any worker who is a home based-worker, self-employed worker or a wage worker in the unorganised sector including a worker in the organised sector who is not a member of ESIC or EPFO or not a government employee is called an Unorganised Worker”.
Now, with the March 2025 deadline, these committees are expected to propose a comprehensive and sustainable model of social security for all, including both organised and unorganised workers.