In a first of its kind initiative, Union Minister for Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav today interacted over video conference with national level office-bearers of Unorganized Workers’ Unions and Associations on problems of unorganized workers.
Representatives of construction workers, domestic workers, textile workers, municipal workers, transport workers, street vendors, brick-kiln workers and railway mal-godam workers participated in the meeting.
The unorganised workers’ representatives appreciated the Ministry’s initiative of e-Shram portal and stated that this had not only given an identity, but also dignity to the workers, and would help in alleviating the unorganized workers’ sufferings. The union leaders put forth their problems and issues candidly.
Interacting with the union leaders, Yadav said that the Government has been working relentlessly and sincerely for the welfare and upliftment of unorganised workers in particular and for the working class in general.
The Minister particularly thanked the Trade Union leaders for their wholehearted cooperation for motivating and mobilising workers to register in eShram portal and said that it had already turned into a public movement with full jan-bhagidari. The Minister informed that in just over 200 days nearly 23 crore unorganised workers had registered themselves on the portal.
Acknowledging the problems faced by workers employed in brick kiln, forestry, plantations etc. in getting themselves registered on the e-Shram portal, the Minister said that special camps will be organized for them.
The Labour Minister said that the Government was aware of the fact that without ensuring safety, security and welfare of the working class, “we can not imagine the fruition of concept of Atma-Nirbhar Bharat which is the dream of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.”
“The Government has undertaken several social security schemes for the unorganized workers. Besides, the all India survey of Domestic and Migrant workers is also undertaken with full earnestness and soon the Government will take meaningful and constructive action on the report, keeping in view the aspect of social security and welfare of the working class,” Yadav said.
The Minister informed that in view of the resurgence of Covid-19 and subsequent imposition of certain restrictions by State Governments, his Ministry has reactivated 21 Monitoring Centres from 5th January under the Office of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central).
Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameshwar Teli gave a brief account of the welfare facilities extended to non-coal mine workers and Bidi workers on health, housing and education.
Labour and Employment Secretary Sunil Barthwal, while setting the context of the virtual meeting, said the Government was much concerned about providing social security and welfare schemes to all unorganised workers.