Final Passage Of Wage Code Bill To Entitle Minimum Wage To 50 Crore Workers

Heeralal Samariya, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India today said that the final passage of wage code bill would entitle the entire 50 crore workforce in India of Minimum Wages. Speaking at AIOE (All India Organisation of Employers) National Award for Outstanding Industrial Relations, 2017-18, organised by FICCI, Samariya noted that currently, 60% of workers are not covered under the Minimum Wages Act. If the wage code becomes the law of the land, all 50 crore workers in India including agriculture and domestic workers will have a legal right to get minimum wages.

Samariya highlighted that apart from ensuring minimum wages, the government is also working to provide life with dignity even after retirement through pension scheme for workers employed in the unorganised sector. India has the world's largest workforce at 50 crore of which only 8% are in the organised sector, he added. As of today, provident funds, pensions or social security is only available in the organised sector.

For unorganised sector workers, government has come out with Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme, which provides for a minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month to all individuals, he noted. The scheme is doing well, and government is likely to enroll 10-15 crore workers in the next 2-3 years including 5-6 crore workforce in construction sector. Even agriculture workers and self-employed retailers can be a part of it, he said.

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