Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Labour and Employment addressed concerns regarding the exploitation of industrial workers and non-payment of minimum wages, particularly in sugar mills. The government's response highlights the role of State Governments/UTs in addressing issues related to sugar mill workers and outlines measures taken, including the implementation of the Code on Wages, 2019, and the eShram portal to support unorganised workers. The eShram OneStopSolution, launched on October 21, 2024, integrates various social security schemes for easy access by registered workers.
Key Points / Main Content:
Minimum Wage and Worker Exploitation:
* The Central and State Governments fix, review, and revise minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
* Issues concerning workers in sugar mills fall under the jurisdiction of respective State Governments/UTs.
* The Code on Wages, 2019, has rationalised and made minimum wages universally applicable across employments.
Unorganised Workers Social Security:
* The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act (UWSS), 2008, provides for welfare schemes, including life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, and old age protection.
* The eShram portal (eshram.gov.in), launched on August 26, 2021, aims to create a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), seeded with Aadhaar, to register and support them with a Universal Account Number (UAN).
* The eShram OneStopSolution was launched on October 21, 2024, integrating various social security schemes.
eShram OneStopSolution:
* The eShram OneStopSolution integrates different Social Security Welfare schemes at single portal i.e., eShram.
* Unorganised workers, including migrant workers registered on eShram, can access 13 social security schemes, including:
* PMSBY (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana)
* PMJJBY (Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana)
* AB PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana)
* PMSVANidhi (Prime Minister Street Vendors Atma Nirbhar Nidhi)
* PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) Urban/Rural
* NSAP (National Social Assistance Programme) National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
* MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme)
* PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana)
* PM Kisan (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme)
Impact Analysis:
Central Government and State Governments/UTs:
* Impact: Responsible for fixing, reviewing, and revising minimum wages. State Governments/UTs specifically handle issues related to sugar mill workers.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and the Code on Wages, 2019. State Governments/UTs should address worker exploitation in sugar mills.
Unorganised Workers (including Migrant Workers):
* Impact: Access to social security schemes and benefits through the eShram portal and eShram OneStopSolution.
* Action Required: Register on the eShram portal to obtain a UAN and access integrated social security schemes.
Employers:
* Impact: Required to comply with minimum wage laws and provide basic facilities to labourers.
* Action Required: Ensure payment of minimum wages as per the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and provide basic facilities to employees to avoid exploitation.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI HARENDRA SINGH MALIK: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding exploitation of industrial workers.
SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: Minister of State for Labour and Employment who provided the answer to the question.
Minimum Wages Act 1948: A labour law that mandates the fixing, review, and revision of minimum wages for employees in scheduled employments.
Code on Wages, 2019: A law that rationalizes and subsumes the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, making minimum wages universally applicable.
Unorganised Workers Social Security Act UWSS, 2008: A law that provides for formulating welfare schemes for unorganised workers, covering aspects like life, disability, health, maternity, and old age protection.
National Database of the Unorganised Workers NDUW: A comprehensive database, including migrant workers, seeded with Aadhaar, created through the eShram portal.
eShram portal: A portal launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to register and support unorganised workers by providing them a Universal Account Number (UAN).
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana AB PMJAY: A health insurance scheme integrated into the eShram portal, aimed at providing health coverage to eligible beneficiaries.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1315
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
STEPS TO BE DUE EXPLOITATION OF INDUSTRIAL WORKERS
1315. SHRI HARENDRA SINGH MALIK:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether it is a fact that the cases of exploitation of workers and
non-payment of minimum wages as per the Sugar Wage Board to
workers employed in sugar mills and other local industries are not
being monitored properly by the concerned Department;
(b)if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps
taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard and if
not, the reasons therefor;
(c)whether the Government is aware that the labourers are exploited
and deprived of basic facilities by their employers; and
(d)if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps
taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard and if
not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (d): Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, the
Central Government and the State Governments, as appropriate
Government, fix, review and revise the minimum wages of the
employees employed in the Scheduled employments under their
respective jurisdictions. The matter related to workers employed in
sugar mills falls under the jurisdiction of respective State
Governments/UTs.
Recently the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948,
have been rationalized and subsumed under the Code on Wages,
2019. The Code makes minimum wages universally applicable across
employments.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act (UWSS),
2008 provides for, inter-alia, formulating welfare schemes for
unorganised workers on the matters relating to life and disability
cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection etc.
Ministry of Labour & Employment launched the eShram
portal (eshram.gov.in) on 26th August 2021 for creation of a
comprehensive National Database of the Unorganised Workers
(NDUW), including migrant workers, seeded with Aadhaar. eShram
portal is meant to register and support the unorganised workers by
providing them a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-
declaration basis.
Further, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has also
launched the eShram– “One-Stop-Solution” on 21st October 2024.
eShram– “One-Stop-Solution” entails integration of different Social
Security/ Welfare schemes at single portal i.e., eShram. This enables
unorganised workers, including migrant workers registered on
eShram, to access 13 social security schemes and see benefits
availed by them so far, through eShram;- including PMSBY, PMJJBY,
Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY),
Prime Minister Street Vendors Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi),
PMAY (Urban & Rural), NSAP – National Family Benefit Scheme
(NFBS), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Programme (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
(PMMSY) and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM
Kisan).
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