YEAR
END REVIEW-LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
Following are the salient
features of the initiatives taken by the Unnion
Ministry of Labour & Employment during the year 2013:
Agenda for 45th Indian Labour Conference finalized:
In a meeting convened by the then Labour &
Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjuna
Kharge on 4th January 2013, the Standing
Labour Committee finalized
the following agenda for the 45th Indian Labour
Conference:
1. Service conditions, wages and social
security for various categories of workers employed in different Central
Government and State Government schemes (Anganwadi,
Mid- day
meal, ASHA, Sarva-ShikshaAbhiyan and other schemes under various
Ministers of Central Government.
2. Social Security with special
reference to Assured Pension with indexation for all workers including self-employed.
3. Labour Law for
micro and small enterprises
4. Measures to improve employment and
employability
Mallikarjun Kharge Assured Central Trade Union Leaders to Brief Prime
Minister about issues Raised by them and Appealed
to the Central Trade Unions not to Inconvenience the General Public and
the Workers and to Withdraw the Notice for the Proposed Strike.
The Union Minister for Labour &
Employment Shri Mallikarjun
Kharge and the Minister of State for Labour &
Employment Shri K.Suresh met the
representatives of eleven major Central Trade Unions on 13th
February, 2013 in New Delhi to discuss the proposed country-wide General Strike
on the 20th and 21st February, 2013. Senior officers of various Ministries also
attended the meeting.
Government Initiatives on proposed
Strike by the Central Trade Unions
As directed by the Prime Minister,
senior Ministers in the Union Cabinet – Shri A.K.
Antony, Defence Minister, Shri Sharad
Pawar, Minister for Agriculture and Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister for Labour & Employment held a round
of discussions with the representatives of the Central Trade Unions on the
evening of 18th February to convey the serious intent of the Government to
resolve the various issues raised in their charter of demands.
Departmentally Related Standing
Committee on Labour Invited Suggestions on ‘The Child Labour (Prohibition And Regulation) Amendment Bill-2012
Hon’ble
Speaker, Lok Sabha has
referred ‘The Child Labour (Prohibition Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012’ as
introduced in Rajya Sabha
to the Standing Committee on Labour for examination and Report. Considering the
wide implication of the proposed amendments and the deeper concern for
rehabilitation, welfare and security of child labour, the Standing Committee
Labour under the Chairmanship of Shri Dara Singh Chauhan, MP decided on
15th March,2013 to invite suggestions/comments/views from the public
in general and from individuals/NGOs/Experts/Stakeholders and Institutions in
particular. The
memoranda/suggestions submitted to the Committee would form the records of the
Committee and would be treated ‘confidential’ and privileges of the Committee. Those who wished to appear before the Committee,
besides submitted memoranda, were requested to specifically indicate so.
However, the Committee decision in this regard remained final.
Second SAARC Regional Workshop on
Child Labour
The 2nd SAARC Regional Workshop on
Child Labour began on May 29th, 2013 in New Delhi to chalk out and
promote comprehensive and gender-sensitive approaches to understanding and
responding to child labour; showcasing strategies and initiatives that have
promoted learning and action to ending child labour and protecting adolescents
at work; and fostering cooperation through the SAARC mechanisms and
partnerships on the issue. The 03 day long workshop for SAARC Member countries
was jointly organized by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of
India and V.V. Giri National Labour Institute in
collaboration with the International Labour Organization.
Extension of Rashtriya
Swasthya Bima Yojana to other occupational groups
The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to rikshaw pullers, rag pickers, mine workers, sanitation
workers and auto rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers on 04 June, 2013 . The total number of unorganized workers estimated to
be covered in these categories was supposed to be as under:
i. Rickshaw drivers/pullers 13.68 lakh
ii. Rag pickers 11.63
lakh
iii. Mine workers 17.79 lakh
iv. Sanitation workers 10.08 lakh
v. Auto rickshaw drivers/taxi drivers 35.39
lakh
The total financial implications for extension of RSBY to rikshaw
pullers, rag pickers, mine workers,sanitation workers
and auto rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers, would be around Rs.210 crore approximately for the year 2013-14 and Rs.419.89 crore from the year 2014-15 onwards. The exact amount will
be determined on the basis of persons identified and registered under these
categories during each preceding year and actual premium rates.
The projected benefit would facilitates health insurance cover to rickshaw
pullers, rag pickers, mine workers, sanitation workers and auto rickshaw
drivers and taxi drivers.
RSBY is being implemented in 28 States/Union Territories. The target for the
year 2013-14 is to cover 3.60 crore Below Poverty
Line (BPL) families.
India Pushed Forward the Interest of Developing
Countries at the Ongoing International Labour Conference’s (ILO) 102th Session . Post 2015 Developmental Agenda and
The Relevance of Current MDGs were Discussed Along with Strategy for Next Six
Years Till its Centenary
At the 102th Session of
International Labour Conference’s (ILO) India strongly put forth the interests of
developing countries in their important policy speeches. Poverty alleviation
and attainment of Millennium Development Goals still remain a priority for
developing and low income countries. In the Sustainable Development Committee
India will strongly advocate its stand that all three pillars of sustainable
development – economic, social and environmental should be given equal
importance. Green economy and green jobs are not an
end in itself but one of the means of attaining the over-arching goal of
sustainable development. India along with other developing countries follows
the principle of CBDR (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities) in the area
of environmental issues i.e. the developed countries should share a bigger
responsibility as compared to the developing countries.
Shish Ram Ola took over as New Union
Minister Labour and Employment Minister
Shri Shish Ram
Ola took over as
new Union Minister Labour and Employment Minister 0n 18th June 2013.
Shri Ola had already handled this portfolio from May
23, 2004 to November 27, 2004 in the UPA-I tenure.
Material sent for Uttrakhand
Flood Victims.
EPFO Employees Contribute Rs. One Crore to Uttrakhand Calamity
Union Labour & Employment
Minister Shri Sis Ram Ola flagged off the material,
collected by the employees and officers of the Employees Provident Fund
Organisation. The seven trucks loaded with relief materials flagged off on the
occasion carrying rice, atta, pulses, refined oil,
sugar, potatoes, clothes, shoes and other materials to provide relief to the
victims of natural calamity in Uttrakhand on 2nd
July, 2013. The officers and staff of Organisation also presented a Cheque of
Rs.1 crore to the Minister on the occasion, for
sending it further to the Chief Minister, Uttrakhand.
Revised Online Transfer Claim Form For EPFO Released
Union
Labour & Employment Minister Shri Sis Ram Ola
today released Revised Transfer Claim form for EPFO beneficiaries marking this
as first step towards launch of online Transfer Claim facilities 0n 4th
July, 2013. 2013. The revised
form have the following salient features:
• The form will be called Transfer Claim Form instead of Form 13 for easy
comprehension by the beneficiaries.
• The form can be presented after verification, either through the present
employer or previous employer. Earlier the form could be submitted after
verification only through the present employer.
• This form can be submitted online as well as in physical form. The facility
of online submission of this form will be given shortly after process of
collecting the digital signature of the employer is completed.
• The facility to file physical form shall continue to cater to the needs of
working class who do not have internet access.
• Employee will be allowed to submit their applications online, if their
employer is having registered digital signature.
• Online submission of form will introduce paperless process for claim
settlement.
• Every beneficiary will be informed through SMS and e-mail about the stage of
process of the claim to make the entire process transparent and accountable.
• After introduction of online claim settlement, endeavour will be made to
substantially reduce the assured time of settlement of transfer claim which
presently is 30 days.
Software for Updation
of Annual Accounts of EPF Members Launched
Chairman, Central Board of Trustees, Employees’ Provident Fund
& Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Shri
Sis Ram today launched a new software for Updation Of Annual Accounts of EPF Members on 04th
September, 2013 The new software “Updation of Annual
Accounts (Interest Processing and Approval) will be after office hours and
hence smooth functioning of the office during office hours. However, the timing
may be adjusted according to office convenience.
The time consumption of DA-Accounts and APFC-Accounts for Updation
of Annual Accounts with the System will reduce significantly thereby
contributing improvement in overall productivity
Storage of F 24 details/ F24 summary in pdf format in
the server.
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