The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act of 2008 is an important component of Indian legislation that aims to offer social security benefits to the unorganised labour force in the nation. The Act is significant because it acknowledges the need for social security for people who do not work in the formal economy and are therefore ineligible for government-sponsored social security benefits. More than ninety per cent of the workers in India is reportedly employed in the enormous unorganised sector.

Workers employed in a variety of industries, including as farmers, building contractors, domestic work, and small-scale enterprises, are included in this category. These workers often hold low-wage, irregular occupations with no job security and little to no access to benefits like health insurance, pensions, or disability payments.

The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act of 2008 seeks to give social security benefits to these employees by establishing a national social security board that would carry out various social security programmes for unorganised workers. Unorganised workers are those that work from home, are self-employed, or are employed on a daily rate in an unorganised industry.

The Act includes old-age security, health and maternity benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and any additional benefits that the federal government may decide to include in its social security programmes. The plans will be funded by the government, and the federal, state, and unorganised workers themselves will each contribute in some capacity. The Act calls for the creation of a national social security fund to finance unorganised workers' social security programmes.

The national social security board will be in charge of managing the fund, which will be funded by payments from the federal government, state governments, and unorganized workers. To guarantee that social security programmes are implemented successfully in each state, the Act also requires the establishment of social security boards at the state level. To ensure that unorganised workers can access social security benefits, the Act mandates that they register with the national and state social security boards.

Workers who wish to register must present identification, residency, and employment documentation. An important piece of legislation that recognises the need for social security for workers in the unorganised sector is the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act of 2008. The Act aims to provide social security benefits to workers who have been shut out of the formal economy and guarantee their access to fundamental social security benefits like health insurance, pensions, and disability benefits.

The Act's implementation has been sluggish, and communicating with workers in the unorganised sector has been difficult. To ensure that employees in the unorganised sector can obtain social security benefits, however, there have been initiatives to raise understanding of the Act and its provisions. For workers in the unorganised sector to live better lives and have access to necessary social security benefits, the Act must be implemented effectively.

The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act was introduced by the Indian government in 2008 with the goal of providing social security to the nation's unorganised workers. The informal workforce in the nation has long been disregarded in terms of social security policies, therefore this act is crucial in safeguarding their wellbeing. We will go over the specifics of the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act and how it affects unorganised workers' daily lives in this blog article.

Who are unorganised workers?

Workers who are unorganised operate in the informal economy and are not protected by any official labour regulations. This comprises those who work for a daily salary, street sellers, domestic helpers, labourers in the construction industry, agricultural labourers, and others who operate small companies or work in informal settings. These workers frequently lack social security, job stability, and other fundamental benefits that are provided to official employees.

What is the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act?

Unorganised employees are covered by social security under the Unorganised employees' Social Security Act, 2008, an act adopted by the Indian government. The act intends to raise the standard of life and offer a safety net for these people. The act addresses several facets of social security, including health and maternity benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and old age security.

The act calls for the establishment of a National Social Security Board, tasked with developing policies and initiatives for the social security of unorganised workers. The board will also keep an eye on how the law is being applied and make sure the intended recipients receive the benefits.

What are the benefits under the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act?

The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act provides for several benefits for unorganised workers.

Some of the key benefits are:

1. Life and disability cover: The act provides for life and disability cover for unorganised workers. The cover is extended to the worker and his or her family members, and the premium is shared by the worker and the government.
2. Health and maternity benefits: The act provides for health and maternity benefits for unorganised workers. The benefits include hospitalisation expenses, maternity benefits, and preventive healthcare measures.
3. Old age protection: The act provides for old age protection for unorganised workers. The workers who have attained the age of 60 years will be entitled to a monthly pension.
4. Education: The act provides for education and skill development for the children of unorganised workers.
5. Housing: The act provides for housing for unorganised workers.

Impact of the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act

The lives of unorganised workers have improved as a result of the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act. Workers who had previously been denied access to social security payments might now receive them thanks to the measure. Additionally, it has elevated these workers' standard of living and given them a safety net in difficult times.

The act's implementation still faces a few obstacles, though. Some of the main difficulties are tracking the implementation of the plan, collecting premiums, and identifying beneficiaries. The government must take action to resolve these issues and make sure the intended beneficiaries of the act receive the advantages of the act.

Conclusion
An significant step towards providing social security to unorganised workers in India is the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008. The act offers unorganised workers housing, health and maternity benefits, life insurance, protection from old age, and education. Although the act has improved the lives of unorganised employees, there are still certain difficulties in its application. The government must take action to resolve these issues and make sure that everyone benefits from the law.

End-Notes:

• Ministry of Labour and Employment. (2008). The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008. Retrieved from https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/UnorganisedWorkersSocialSecurityAct2008.pdf
• Economic and Political Weekly. (2009). Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008: A Critique. Retrieved from https://www.epw.in/journal/2009/19/commentary/unorganised-workers-social-security-act-2008-critique.html
• Ministry of Labour and Employment. (2020). Unorganised Workers. Retrieved from https://labour.gov.in/unorganised-workers
• Government of India. (2021). Unorganized Workers. Retrieved from https://india.gov.in/topics/labour-employment/unorganized-workers
• Hindustan Times. (2021). India's unorganised sector: Definition, size, challenges and reforms. Retrieved from https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/india-s-unorganised-sector-definition-size-challenges-and-reforms-101611764558676.html
• Business Standard. (2019). Government to focus on implementing unorganised workers' social security act. Retrieved from https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-to-focus-on-implementing-unorganised-workers-social-security-act-119041800921_1.html