20-Apr-2022: E-Shram Registered Unorganised Workers Getting Decent Jobs through NCS

During the Budget Speech 2022-23, the Finance Minister had announced interlinking of four portals i.e. National Career Service (NCS), e-Shram, UDYAM and ASEEM to enable services related to credit facilitation, skilling and recruitment with an aim to further formalize the economy and enhance entrepreneurial opportunities for all.

In line with the budget speech, the linkage between NCS and e-Shram has been completed recently. This linkage has enabled unorganized workers registered on e-Shram to seamlessly register on NCS and look for better job opportunities through NCS. So far, more than 26,000 e-Shram beneficiaries have registered on NCS and have started benefiting from this linkage. Attractive job roles have been offered to e-Shram registrants in the past few days which include both desk and field jobs as per skills and need of the jobseekers.

As reported by some of the eShram beneficiaries, a woman unorganised worker from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh got a job in a reputed chemical firm as the District Manager through NCS. One other female e-Shram beneficiary from Palakkad, Kerala received a job offer as a Process Executive in a reputed software firm at Ernakulam. e-Shram registrants are getting varied job offers like Quality Control, Accountant, Agriculture officer, etc. through NCS. The unorganised workers of eShram are now having decent career options near their locality with the help on NCS portal.

The NCS portal of Ministry of Labour and Employment is having more than 1.5 lakh active vacancies across all regions in the country, spanning across different growing sectors like IT & Communication, Wholesale & Retail, Civil & Construction works, Government Jobs, etc. The portal has special window on jobs for Differently Abled, Women, Work from Home, Government Jobs, etc. The NCS portal also offer soft skills and digital skills training module free of cost to its registered jobseekers.

7-Apr-2022: ​​​​​​​Donate-a-Pension Programme

To extend the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme to the unorganized workers, the Government has taken Donate-a-Pension initiative recently under which people/employers can donate the premium contribution for their immediate support staff such as domestic workers, drivers, helpers, care givers, nurses, in their household or establishment or any other eligible unorganized workers in the age group of 18-40 years so as to provide them old age protection through PM-SYM pension scheme.  The donor can pay minimum of one year's contribution. The donation amount for a year amounts to minimum Rs 660/ and maximum upto Rs 2400/- depending on the age of the beneficiary. The people/employers can donate on https://maandhan.in/ or by visiting the nearest Common Service Centre. As on 31st March, 2022, around 100 people/employers have come forward to donate the premium contribution through Donate-a-Pension module for their staffs to extend them the benefits of PM-SYM pension scheme.

31-Mar-2022: Subscribers of PM-SYM

PM-SYM is a voluntary scheme. Moreover, the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, adversely affected lives of unorganised workers resulting in low fresh enrolments under PM-SYM scheme during this period.

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme was launched to provide old age protection to the workers of unorganised sectors in the form of monthly minimum assured pension of Rs.3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. As on date, more than 46 lakhs unorganised workers have been enrolled under the scheme. The Government has taken several measures to popularize and bring awareness among the targeted beneficiaries about the PM-SYM pension scheme and increase the enrolments. The State(s)/UT(s) were granted Rs 11.73 cr. in 2019-20 for undertaking IEC activities. Apart from this, to create the awareness, SMSs have been sent to eligible beneficiaries registered under e-SHRAM falling in the age group of 18- 40 years to encourage them to also enroll under PM-SYM scheme. Furthermore, extensive social media campaigns have been launched and Pension Saptah was celebrated from 7th to 13th March, 2022 across the country, with an objective to popularize the scheme among the workers, through State(s)/UT(s) and CSC-SPV machinery. At present, there is no proposal to alter the structure of the scheme.

24-Mar-2022: Implementation of e-SHRAM Card Scheme

Ministry of Labour & Employment is implementing labour welfare schemes of housing, health and scholarship for beedi, cine and non-coal mine workers and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme for the welfare of unorganised workers.

The Ministry has also issued guidelines for model welfare schemes for Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) being implemented by States/UTs Welfare Boards.

Ministry of Labour & Employment has launched e-SHRAM portal in August 2021 which is a National Database of the Unorganised Workers. As on 14.03.2022, more than 26.69 crore unorganised workers have registered themselves on e-SHRAM portal and received e-SHRAM cards. Registration on the portal is completely free of cost. Workers can easily get themselves registered on the portal through following three modes:-

1. Self-registration
2. Through Common Service Centres (CSCs)
3. Through State e-Seva Kendras.

2-Mar-2020: 42,06,439 Persons Enrolled so far in PM-SYM

In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008. This Act stipulates formulation of suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers on matters relating to: (i) life and disability cover, (ii) health and maternity benefits, (iii) old age protection and (iv) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government. Life and disability cover is provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to the unorganised workers depending upon their eligibility. Ministry of Labour and Employment has been implementing the Converged Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), since June 2017 to provide life and disability coverage to the unorganised workers depending upon their eligibility. Converged PMJJBY gives coverage of Rs.2 lakhs on death at premium of Rs.330/- per annum for an age span from 18 to 50 years.  Converged PMSBY gives coverage of Rs.2 lakhs on accidental death and disability at premium of Rs.12 per annum covering an age span from 18 years to 70 years. These converged schemes are being implemented by Life Insurance Corporation of India. The annual premium is shared on 50:50 basis by the Central Government and the State Governments. The new enrolment shall only be done under converged PMJJBY/PMSBY.  The number of beneficiaries enrolled under this Scheme, are as follows:

For old age protection in the form of monthly pension, Ministry of Labour & Employment in 2019 has launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana which is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for providing monthly minimum assured pension of Rs. 3000/- on attaining the age of 60 years. The unorganised workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs.15000/- or less and not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS(GOVT. FUNDED) can join the scheme. Under the scheme, 50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. The total number of enrolments under this Scheme so far are 42,06,439.

Government has approved a proposal for creation of a National Database of unorganized workers (NDUW). This database shall be seeded with Aadhar and accessible through Aadhar number.  This database will be used for delivering social security schemes implemented by Central and State Governments.

A draft code on Social Security 2019 has been prepared by amalgamating simplifying and rationalizing the relevant provisions of the existing Nine Central Labour Acts relating to social security for organised and unorganised sector workers.

5-Feb-2020: New Pension Schemes for Unorganised Sector

Government of India has introduced two voluntary and contributory Pension Schemes, i.e.(1) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana, (PM-SYM), a  pension scheme  for  the  Unorganised Workers and (2) National Pension Scheme  for  the  Traders and  Self Employed  Persons (NPS-Traders)  (for  the Vyaparis) under section 3(1) of  Unorganised  Workers Social Security  Act, 2008 to  provide  old  age  protection  to  them.

The schemes envisage for providing minimum assured monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. If  the  subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be  entitled  to   receive  50%  of the pension as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse. The monthly contribution ranges from Rs.55-Rs.200/- depending upon the entry age of the beneficiary.

PM-SYM is meant for old age protection and social security of Unorganised Workers (UW) who are mostly engaged as rickshaw  pullers, street vendor, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washermen, home-based, agricultural workers, construction  workers,  beedi workers,  handloom  workers,  leather workers, audio-visual workers or  in  similar other  occupations. There are estimated 42 crore such unorganised workers in the country. The entry age for  the  beneficiary is 18-40 years and he/she should not be a member of ESIC/EPFO or an income tax payer.

The NPS-Traders scheme is meant for old age protection and social security of Vyaparis (retail traders/ shopkeepers and self-employed  persons) whose annual turnover is not exceeding Rs.1.5 Crore. These retail traders/petty shopkeepers and self-employed  persons are  mostly  working as shop owners, retail traders,  rice mill owners, oil mill owners, workshop owners, commission agents, brokers of real estate, owners of small hotels, restaurants and other Vyaparis. The entry age for the scheme is 18-40 years and the Vyapari should not be a member of ESIC/EPFO/PM-SYM or an income tax payer.

The schemes are being implemented through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India and Common Service Centres. LIC is the Fund Manager and responsible for pension pay-out. Common Service Centre is the enrolment agency responsible for enrolment of the beneficiaries through its 3.50 lakhs Centres across India. 

For creating awareness among to public, TV/Radio campaign has been issued. Information Education and Communication (IEC) material like pamphlets, posters, banners have been provided to State /UT Governments in regional languages. Rs. 20.00 Crore have been distributed among State/UT Governments for publicity and public awareness programmes. Pension Week was celebrated during 30th Nov. to 06th Dec, 2019, public meeting were organised at CSC, district and State HQ levels. State Level Monitoring Committees with Chief Secretary as Chairman and District Level Implementation Committee with DM/Collector / DC as Chairman have been formed in almost all the districts and States.

15-Jul-2019: 30,85,205 Persons Enrolled in PM-SYM as on July 10, 2019

Government of India in February 2019 launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM), a voluntary and contributory pension Scheme, for the benefit of unorganised workers, as per the eligibility.

The scheme assures minimum monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- to the beneficiaries after attaining the age of 60 years. Under the Scheme, the subscriber is required to pay the prescribed monthly contribution amount and the Central Government provides the equal matching contribution.

This scheme is implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India.

Enrolment under the Scheme was started with effect from 15-02-2019. As on date 10.07.2019, the total person enrolled under PM-SYM are 30,85,205.

14-Feb-2019: Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM- SYM) to be Implemented from February 15

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) will be rolled out by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on 15.02.2019. The scheme announced in the Interim Budget was notified by the Ministry recently. As many as 42 crore workers are estimated to be engaged in the unorganized sector of the country.

The unorganised workers mostly engaged as home based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washer men, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers, own account workers, agricultural workers, construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers, audio- visual workers and similar other occupations whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less and belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years are eligible for the scheme. They should not be covered under New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Further, he/she should not be an income tax payer.

Following are the salient Features of PM-SYM:

• Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the PM-SYM, shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
• Family Pension: During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.
• If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and died due to any cause (before age of 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.

Contribution by the Subscriber:  The subscriber’s contributions to PM-SYM shall be made through ‘auto-debit’ facility from his/ her savings bank account/ Jan- Dhan account. The subscriber is required to contribute the prescribed contribution amount from the age of joining PM-SYM till the age of 60 years. 

Matching contribution by the Central Government: PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme on a 50:50 basis where prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government as per the chart. For example, if a person enters the scheme at an age of 29 years, he is required to contribute Rs 100/ - per month till the age of 60 years. An equal amount of Rs 100/- will be contributed by the Central Government. 

Enrolment Process under PM-SYM: The subscriber will be required to have a mobile phone, savings bank account and Aadhaar number. The eligible subscriber may visit the nearest CSCs and get enrolled for PM-SYM using Aadhaar number and savings bank account/ Jan-Dhan account number on self-certification basis.

Later, facility will be provided where the subscriber can also visit the PM-SYM web portal or can download the mobile app and self-register using Aadhar number/ savings bank account/ Jan-Dhan account number on self-certification basis.

Enrollment agencies: The enrolment will be carried out by all the Community Service Centers (CSCs).  The unorganised workers may visit their nearest CSCs along with their Aadhar Card and Savings Bank account passbook/Jandhan account and get registered themselves for the Scheme.  Contribution amount for the first month shall be paid in cash for which they will be provided with a receipt.

Facilitation Centres: All the branch offices of LIC, the offices of ESIC/EPFO and all Labour offices of Central and State Governments will facilitate the unorganised workers about the Scheme, its benefits and the procedure to be followed, at their respective centers. 

In this respect, the arrangements to be made by all offices of LIC, ESIC, EPFO all Labour offices of Central and State Governments are given below, for ease of reference:

1. All LIC, EPFO/ESIC and all Labour offices of Central and State Governments may set up a “Facilitation Desk” to facilitate the unorganised workers, guide about the features of the Scheme and direct them to nearest CSC.
2. Each desk may consist of at least one staff.
3. They will have backdrop, standi at the main gate and sufficient number of brochures printed in Hindi and regional languages to be provided to the unorganised workers.
4. Unorganised workers will visit these centres with Aadhaar Card, Savings bank account/ Jandhan account and mobile phone.
5. Help desk will have onsite suitable sitting and other necessary facilities for these workers.
6. Any other measures intended to facilitate the unorganised workers about the Scheme, in their respective centers.

Fund Management:  PM-SYM will be a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and CSCs. LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out. The amount collected under PM-SYM pension scheme shall be invested as per the investment pattern specified by Government of India.

Exit and Withdrawal: Considering the hardships and erratic nature of employability of these workers, the exit provisions of scheme have been kept flexible. Exit provisions are as under: 

• In case subscriber exits the scheme within a period of less than 10 years, the beneficiary’s share of contribution only will be returned to him with savings bank interest rate.
• If subscriber exits after a period of 10 years or more but before superannuation age i.e. 60 years of age, the beneficiary’s share of contribution along with accumulated interest as actually earned by fund or at the savings bank interest rate whichever is higher.
• If a beneficiary has given regular contributions and died due to any cause, his/ her spouse will be entitled to continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit by receiving the beneficiary’s contribution along with accumulated interest as actually earned by fund or at the savings bank interest rate whichever is higher.
• If a beneficiary has given regular contributions and become permanently disabled due to any cause before the superannuation age, i.e. 60 years, and unable to continue to contribute under the scheme, his/ her spouse will be entitled to continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit the scheme by receiving the beneficiary’s contribution with interest as actually earned by fund or at the savings bank interest rate whichever is higher.
• After the death of subscriber as well as his/her spouse, the entire corpus will be credited back to the fund.
• Any other exit provision, as may be decided by the Government on advice of NSSB.

Default of Contributions: If a subscriber has not paid the contribution continuously he/she will be allowed to regularize his contribution by paying entire outstanding dues, along with penalty charges, if any, decided by the Government.

Pension Pay out: Once the beneficiary joins the scheme at the entry age of 18-40 years, the beneficiary has to contribute till 60 years of age. On attaining the age of 60 years, the subscriber will get the assured monthly pension of Rs.3000/- with benefit of family pension, as the case may be.