BENGAL PROTECTS 25 LAKH UNORGANIZED WORKERS

West Bengal protects 25 lakh unorganized workers under the Provident Fund cover - a pioneering effort in the country Government of West Bengal decides to incorporate 25 lakh unorganized workers in the fold of Provident Fund cover within the next year. So far 17 lakh of them are reportedly fortified with the project. Incidentally, almost 40 crore men and women are engaged in unorganized sector alone. This number, which is ever- increasing, constitutes 90 percent of the total working force in India. The number of hands engaged in organized sectors is slowly depleting. This points to the natural fact that labour in unorganized sector is more deprived of opportunities provided and extended by labour laws and statutes prevalent in the country.

This is aggravated by innumerable facts and factors ranging from disparity in wages to an acute dearth of financial as well as social security. Unorganized labour has thus been prey to the neo-liberal economy. The Left Front Government has been sympathetic to the cause of unorganized labour from the very outset of its journey. The State Government has already taken exemplary steps in this regard in consultation with the labour outfits and organizations. Projects to safeguard the social security for the unorganized workers have already been adopted in spite of the financial constraints staring in the face of the state. It was in West Bengal that Provident Fund Schemes for unorganized workers were taken up for the first time in the country.

The State Government initiated this project in the financial year 2000-01. Usually, persons with permanent jobs and regular salary are entitled for provident fund facilities, which provide great relief and support during their retired life. But the question is how does the system work? Workers contribute only Rs 20 to the fund to his or her credit through the collecting agents. The State Government also contributes the same amount per head to make it two score. The State Government accrues interest to the accumulated amount. The worker gets back the total amount with interest on attaining the age of 60. In case the worker dies in harness i.e. before he or she attains the age of 60, his or her nominee gets the total amount.

The point to be noted is that the nothing but the common interest of the poor workers has been considered in this case. Workers with individual salaries of above Rs. 6500/- p.m. are entitled for this scheme. An example would refresh the reference. The worker settles up at the age of superannuating with Rs. 1,52,428 at the present value if he or she enters into the scheme agreement at the age of 18 and contributes on monthly basis Rs. 10,080 throughout his or her entire career. But the question that crops up is that who are considered as unorganized workers precisely, to fit into the web of the scheme. The State Labour Department intimates that workers engaged in 43 industries of various specifications, which may include even the hands that reinforce Self-Help Groups, come under its purview.

Tailors, sales boys or girls, persons working at construction sites, security agencies, binding shops or indigenous smoke (bidi) factories as well as newspaper vendors, rickshaw-van pullers, masons, auto-drivers, fishermen, clay-artists, domestic aides and so many others may be benefited with this scheme. One more heartening fact is that the National Health Insurance Scheme has been clubbed with the Provident Fund Scheme for unorganized workers in the state. A part of the premium for Health Insurance Scheme is borne by the Union Government. The rest amount was proposed to be the liability of both the State Government and the worker concerned. The State Government, however, decided to bear both the parts of the payment including that of the workers' share with the expectation that they would be relieved of the burden of an extra payment. (News Report)

Courtesy: http://www.cpimwb.org.in/