Various initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana have given a kind of security cover to the workers. Due to such schemes, there is a belief among the workers of the unorganized sector or labour market that the country respects their hard work equally.
We have become a witness to the impact of these efforts of the country on our economy, even during the Corona period. The ‘Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme’ has helped lakhs of small industries. According to a study, this scheme saved the jobs of about 1.5 crore people. EPFO also helped employees a lot during the Corona period as thousands of crores of rupees were given to them in advance. And friends, today we are seeing that just as the country supported its workers in their time of need, in the same way, the workers put their entire might in recovering from this pandemic. Today India has again become the fastest growing economy in the world and a lot of credit goes to our workers.
In just one year, about 28 crore workers spanning 400 sectors have registered themselves with e-Shram Portal. This has especially benefited construction workers, migrant labourers and domestic workers. Now these people are also getting the benefit of facilities like Universal Account Number. The ‘e-Shram Portal’ is also being linked with the National Career Service, Aseem Portal and Udyam Portal to increase employment opportunities for workers.
In the last eight years, we have taken the initiative to abolish the laws from the period of slavery that reflect the slave mentality. The country is now changing, reforming and simplifying such labour laws. Keeping this in mind, 29 labour laws have been converted into four simple labour codes. With this, our labour brothers and sisters will be further empowered on issues like minimum wages, job security, social security and health security. The definition of Inter-State Migrant Labour has also been simplified in the new labour codes. Our migrant labour brothers and sisters have also been helped a lot by the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme.
The country’s labour ministry is also preparing its vision for 2047 in ‘Amrit Kaal’. The future needs flexible workplaces, a work-from-home ecosystem and flexible work hours. We can use systems like flexible workplaces as opportunities for women’s labour force participation.