Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram

Key elements

• A dedicated Shram Suvidha Portal: That would allot Labour Identification Number (LIN) to nearly 6 lakhs units and allow them to file online compliance for 16 out of 44 labour laws
• An all-new Random Inspection Scheme: Utilizing technology to eliminate human discretion in selection of units for Inspection, and uploading of Inspection Reports within 72 hours of inspection mandatory
• Universal Account Number: Enables 4.17 crore employees to have their Provident Fund account portable, hassle-free and universally accessible
• Apprentice Protsahan Yojana: Will support manufacturing units mainly and other establishments by reimbursing 50% of the stipend paid to apprentices during first two years of their training
• Revamped Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana: Introducing a Smart Card for the workers in the unorganized sector seeded with details of two more social security schemes

Shram Suvidha Portal

The objective of the unified web portal is to consolidate information of Labour Inspection and its enforcement, which will lead to transparency and accountability in inspections. The compliances would be reportable in Single Harmonized Form which will make it simple and easy for those filing such forms. The performance will be monitored using key indicators thus making the evaluation process objective. The portal also has an effective grievance redressal System. It promotes the use of a common Labour Identification Number (LIN) by all implementing agencies.

The 4 main features of the portal are:

1. Unique labour identification number (LIN) will be allotted to Units to facilitate online registration.
2. Filing of self-certified and simplified Single Online Return by the industry. Now Units will only file a single consolidated Return online instead of filing 16 separate Returns.
3. Mandatory uploading of inspection Reports within 72 hours by the Labour inspectors.
4. Timely redressal of grievances will be ensured with the help of the portal.

The above will bring in the necessary ease in compliance of provisions related to labour and will be a step forward in promoting the ease of doing business. The complete database available centrally at unified portal will also add to the informed policy process. The portal will be operative in 4 central organizations namely Chief Labour Commissioner, Directorate General of Mines Safety, Employee Provident Fund and Employees’ State insurance Corporation. In this endeavour of the Ministry, complete information of all 11 lakh units for these organizations has been collected, digitized and de-duplicated reducing the total number to 6-7 lakh. It is proposed to allot LIN to all these 6-7 lakh units.

For more information, visit http://efilelabourreturn.gov.in/uwp/home#

Labour Inspection Scheme

So far the units for inspection were selected locally without any objective criteria. To bring in transparency in labour inspection, a transparent Labour Inspection scheme has been developed. The four features of the inspection scheme are:

1. Serious matters are to be covered under the mandatory inspection list.
2. A computerized list of inspections will be generated randomly based on pre-determined objective criteria.
3. Complaints based inspections will also be determined centrally after examination based on data and evidence.
4. There will be provision of Emergency List for inspection of serious cases in specific circumstances.

A transparent Inspection Scheme will provide a check on the arbitrariness in compliance mechanism.

Portability through Universal Account Number (UAN) for Employees Provident Fund

Under the scheme, complete information for approximately 4 crore subscribers of EPF has been centrally compiled and digitized and a UAN has been allotted to all. The UAN is being seeded with Bank account and Aadhar Card and other KYC details for financial inclusion of vulnerable section of society and their unique identification. This will ensure portability of the Social Security Benefits to the labour of organised sector across the jobs and geographic areas. The EPF account of employee will be now be updated monthly and at the same time s/he will be informed through SMS. Finally it will ensure that each of the 4 crore or more EPF account holders have direct access to their EPF accounts and will also enable them to consolidate all their previous accounts (approximately Rs 27000 Crore are currently lying with EPFO in inoperative accounts). The minimum pension for employees has been introduced first time so that employees’ pension is not less than Rs. 1000 per month. The wage ceiling has been raised from Rs. 6500 to Rs. 15000 per month to ensure that vulnerable groups are covered under EPF Scheme.

Recognition of Brand Ambassadors of ITIs

The Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the country are the backbone of the vocational training system, the only source of supply of skilled manpower to manufacturing industry. There are 11,500 ITIs having about 16 lakh seats. But this is grossly inadequate for supplying skilled manpower to Indian industry. Only 10% of the workforce has got formal or informal technical training. Only one fourth of this is formally trained. There is also another big imbalance. The intake capacity of undergraduate engineering colleges was more than 16 lakh in India which was almost same as seating capacity of ITIs.

As a general trend, pass outs from education system do not take admission in the ITIs as their first choice. Mostly students end up in ITI after exhausting all other options for higher education. This is because, blue collar work is not respected and regarded in the society. For meeting the skill needs of the industry and for enhancing employability of the youth, it is needed to attract more youth to it is by enhancing dignity of vocational training.

Over 60 years of existence, ITIs have given excellent technicians, mechanics, entrepreneurs and professional leaders. Manufacturing sector is reservoir of this success. They have brought name and fame in the country and abroad. It is proposed to compile these success stories and publish in print and electronic form. These success stories shall be used for motivating youngsters and their parents. The successful ITI graduates are also to be projected as National Brand Ambassadors of Vocational Training. This will be taken as communicator and catalyst, taking the message of ITI vocational training to every section of society.

All India Skill Competition

The Ministry of labour conducts competitions to foster the healthy spirit of competitiveness among the trainee Craftsmen/ Apprentices. Winning spirit brings pride to world of skills, improves changing work habits to be more organized, goal setting to achieve goals, and simply performing higher quality work. They are:

1. All India Skill Competition for Craftsmen among trainees admitted under Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS). It is conducted once in a year. On the basis of marks obtained in skill competition by trainees, the award is given to BEST CRAFTSMAN-cash prize and merit certificate, BEST INSTITUTE – a merit certificate and the BEST STATE –a shield.
2. All India Competition for Apprentices among trainees admitted under Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS). It is conducted twice every year. The award is given to the BEST Apprentice- cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a merit certificate and Runner Up Apprentice- cash prize of Rs 25000 and merit certificate in each Trade, and the BEST ESTABLISHMENT on all India basis- a trophy and certificate by President of India.

Trade covered in Competition: Both the competitions are conducted in 15 trades i.e. Fitter, Turner, Machinist, Welder (G&E), Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Mechanic (Diesel), Instrument Mechanic, Draughtsman (Mechanical), Draughtsman (Civil), Electrician, Electronic Mechanic, Cutting & Sewing, Foundry Man, Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA), and Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic.

Launch of Apprenticeship Protsahan Yojna

The Apprentices Act 1961 was enacted for regulating the Apprenticeship Training Scheme in the industry for imparting on-the-job training to apprentices. Presently, there are only 2.82 lakh apprentices undergoing training against 4.9 lakh seats.

Apprenticeship Scheme has huge potential for training the large number of young person’s to make them employable. Similar schemes have been highly successful in countries like Germany, China and Japan where the number of apprentices are stated to be 3 million, 20 million and 10 million respectively.

Present framework tightly regulates the number of apprentices trade-wise, and is not attractive to youth because of low rate of stipend. Further the industry is averse to participate because the scheme is not viable for the small industries. There are a large number of establishments including MSMEs where training facilities are available but could not be utilized so far.

A major initiative has been undertaken to revamp the apprenticeship Scheme in India after extensive consultation with industry, states and other stakeholders with the vision of increasing apprenticeship seats to more than 20 lakhs in next few years. There are four components of this initiative, which are given below:

1. Making the legal framework friendly to both, industry and youth. The necessary Bill amending the Act was placed and passed in Lok Sabha on 14.8.2014.
2. Enhancing the rate of stipend and indexing it to minimum wages of semi-skilled workers.
3. Apprentice Protsahan Yojana which will support manufacturing units mainly and other establishments by reimbursing 50% of the stipend paid to apprentices during first two years of their training.
4. Basic training component (mainly class room training part) of the curricula is being restructured on scientific principles to make it more effective, and MSMEs will be supported financially by permitting this component in government funded SDI scheme.

Source: Ministry of Labour and Employment