The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Bill, 2005, which has already been approved by the Rajya Sabha, was passed by the Lok Sabha.
NEW DELHI: Parliament passed an ambitious bill aimed at ensuring social security and welfare of the workers in the unorganised sector, on Wednesday. The government said this was the first step in 60 years to remove difficulties of the poor.
The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Bill, 2005, which has already been approved by the Rajya Sabha, was passed by the Lok Sabha after several amendments moved by Left parties were defeated.
The Bill includes around a dozen welfare schemes like health insurance, group accident scheme, saving-cum-relief scheme and family and old-age benefit schemes.
Noting that 94 per cent of the working class in the country is in the unorganised sector, Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes said the Act will cover around 34 crore people, six crore annually. "This is going to be the millennium scheme," he said.
Admitting that there could be "shortcomings", he said the government would not be able to cover everybody in one go.
He stressed the importance of cooperation from states for speedy implementation of the Act.
"In 60 years, we have been discussing but not taken the first step. This is the first step to eliminate difficulties of the poor people," Fernandes said.
The minister specifically mentioned that the Act will cover workers in the agriculture sector and migrant labourers.
Rejecting charges of delaying such an exercise to cover unorganised sector workers, Fernandes said that the bill had been introduced in September when it was referred to the Standing Committee.
Fernandes said that the government was "extremely concerned" over the problems faced by the unorganised sector.
Referring to Mahatma Gandhi's concern for the poor, the minister said "swaraj cannot be completed till the poorest people have been assured of basic needs of life."
Opposition parties, particularly Left parties moved 22 amendments, which were defeated in voting.
"I feel betrayed by the bill," said CPI(M) member Hannan Mollah who led the Left attack on government and wanted certain changes in it.
He said there should be two separate Acts -- one for unorganised sector and another for agriculture sector.
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