Parliament Question: Social security for unorganised workers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 212 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2026 SOCIAL SECURITY FOR UNORGANISED WORKERS 212. SHRI SANDOSH KUMAR P: Will the Minister of Labour and Employment be pleased to state: (a) the number of unorganised workers in the country; (b) the number of unorganised workers protected under social security schemes; (c) the reasons for huge number of non-protected workers in the unorganised sector; and (d) whether the Ministry has any plan to initiative any specific programme to provide social security for all the workers in unorganised sector? ANSWER MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA) (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *** *****STATEMENT REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 212 FOR 12.03.2026 RAISED BY SHRI SANDOSH KUMAR P REGARDING SOCIAL SECURITY FOR UNORGANISED WORKERS. (a) to (d): As per economic survey 2021-22, the total work force estimated in the informal sector is about 43.99 crore. India has achieved a historic milestone in the realm of social protection coverage, recording one of the most significant expansions globally. According to the latest data from the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) ILOSTAT database, India’s social security coverage has increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025. India’s expansion in social protection coverage has been enabled by a strong foundation of digital and financial inclusion. In order to extend social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector, the Central Government has launched the eShram Portal on 26.08.2021 for creation of a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) seeded with Aadhaar. As on date, more than 31 crore unorganised workers have registered on a self- declaration basis in the eShram portal, which facilitates access to various social security and welfare schemes. Unorganised workers are also being covered under various social security schemes implemented by the Government. Major schemes include the following: (i) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) (ii) National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons (NPS-Traders) (iii) Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) (iv) Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) (v) Atal Pension Y oiana (APY) (vi) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY) (vii) Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM- JAY) The details of the above schemes are enclosed at Annexure-I. Through these schemes and programmes implemented by different Ministries/Departments, workers in the unorganised sector are provided pension security, life and accident insurance, and health protection.The Code on Social Security, 2020 has come into force on 21.11.2025 with the objective to consolidate and simplify the existing social security laws into a single framework and to extend social security coverage to all workers, including organized, unorganized, gig, platform, and self-employed workers, by ensuring universal access to social security benefits, promoting portability of benefits across employments and States, enabling the Central and State Governments to frame appropriate schemes, leveraging technology for efficient delivery, and clearly defining the roles of governments, employers, and aggregators in order to provide comprehensive social protection to the workforce in line with evolving labour market conditions. In keeping with the Budget Announcement 2024–25 to develop eShram as a One-Stop Solution for unorganised workers to access various social security schemes, the Ministry launched the eShram “One-Stop-Solution” on 21 October 2024. This initiative entails integration of different social security and welfare schemes on a single portal, i.e., eShram, enabling registered workers to access schemes and view benefits availed by them through the portal. So far, fourteen (14) schemes of different Central Ministries/Departments have been integrated with eShram to extend benefits and access to social security, insurance and skill development programmes to eShram cardholders across the country. These include Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAMG), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY). Apart from the above, eShram has linkages with the National Career Service (NCS) for job opportunities, Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) for skill development, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) for pension benefits and the convergence portal of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The details of the number of unorganized workers registered on eShram portal and enrolled under various social welfare schemes is enclosed at Annexure-II. *****Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) to (d) of the Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 212 for 12.03.2026 regarding “Social Security for unorganised workers” raised by Shri Sandosh Kumar P. Sl. No. Details of Schemes Enrolments 1. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM): Approx 52.47 lakhs A voluntary and contributory pension scheme for (as on 28.02.2026) unorganised workers aged 18-40 years with monthly income up to Rs. 15,000 The subscriber contributes between Rs. 55 and Rs. 200 per month, depending on the age of entry, and the Government provides an equal matching contribution. The subscriber receives a minimum assured pension of Rs. 3,000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years. 2. National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self- Approx 61 thousand Employed Persons (NPS-Traders): A pension scheme (as on 28.02.2026) for shopkeepers, traders and self-employed persons with annual turnover not exceeding Rs. 1.5 crore and aged 18- 40 years, providing minimum assured pension of Rs, 3,000 per month after the age of 60 years, with matching contribution by the Government. 3. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana Approx 26.79 crore (PMJJBY): A life insurance scheme providing life cover (as on 18.02.2026) of Rs. 2 lakh for death due to any cause at a nominal annual premium of Rs. 436. 4. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): An Approx 57 crore (as accident insurance scheme providing Rs. 2 lakh coverage on 18.02.2026) for accidental death or permanent disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability at an annual premium of Rs. 20. 5. Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Atal Pension Yojana was Approx 8.84 cr. (as launched on 9th May, 2015, with the objective of creating on 28.02.2026) a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under- privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector. It is open to all citizens of India between 18-40 years of age having a savings bank account in a bank or post-office. For better targeting of guaranteed pension to unorganised sector workers, an income tax payer shall not be eligible to join APY from 1st October, 2022. The subscriber under APY is required to make a monthly/quarterly/six monthly contribution of an amount determined by the amount of pension chosen and the age of joining the scheme. The subscriber shall receive a government guaranteed minimum pension of Rs 1000 per month, Rs. 2000 per month, Rs. 3000 per month, Rs. 4000 per month or Rs. 5000 per month, after the age of 60 years until death, depending on the contribution chosen. 6. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM- Approx 19.92 lakh KMY): A voluntary contributory pension scheme for (as on 09.03.2026) small and marginal farmers aged 18-40 years, providing minimum assured pension of Rs. 3,000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years, with matching contribution by the Government.7. Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Approx 43.60 crore Yojana (AB PM-JAY): A flagship health assurance (as on 09.03.2026) scheme providing health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization to economically vulnerable families, including a large number of workers from the unorganised sector.Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) to (d) of the Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 212 for 12.03.2026 regarding “Social Security for unorganised workers” raised by Shri Sandosh Kumar P. Details of the number of unorganized workers registered on eShram portal and enrolled under various social welfare schemes as on 09th March, 2026. S.No. Schemes Enrolments 1. One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) 24,31,62,820 2. Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors AtmanirbharNidhi 32,54,287 (PMSVANidhi) 3. Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission 6,18,95,941 (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) 4. Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) 98,27,430 5. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) 1,67,691 6. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) 11,73,899 7. Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 24,90,348 8. Pradhan Mantri MatsyaSampadaYojana (PMMSY) 23,905 9. Pradhan Mantri JeevanJyotiBimaYojana (PMJJBY) 2,25,52,084 10. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana (PMSBY) 8,51,79,093 11. Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB- 15,10,06,017 PMJAY) 12. Pradhan Mantri KisanSammanNidhi (PM-KISAN) 3,95,63,036 13. Pradhan Mantri MatruVandnaYojana (PMMVY) 31,83,241 *****