Social Security Measures and Benefits available to industry workers in India. (#MBANotes)(#HRMNotes)(#LLBNotes)(#ipumusings)
Social Security Measures and Benefits available to industry workers in India.
Following benefits and social security measures are available to industry workers:
1. Workmen’s Compensation Act 1923
2. Employees State Insurance Act 1946
3. The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Ammendment 2017)
4. Coalmines Provident. Fund and Bonus Act 1948
5. Employees Provident Fund Act 1952
6. Family Pension Scheme 1971 (revised 1995)
7. Payment of Gratuity Act 1972
8. Old Age Pension Schemes
9. Compulsory Group Insurance
10. Deposit-linked Insurance Scheme 1976
11. Social Security Schemes, Certificates and Funding
1. Workmen’s Compensation Act 1923
The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 provides for payment of compensation to workmen (or their dependents) in case of personal injury caused by accident or certain occupational diseases arising out of and in the course of employment and resulting in disablement or death. The Act was last amended in 1976.
The Act does not apply to those workers who are covered under the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
2. Employees State Insurance Act 1946
In order to provide sickness benefits to workers, the Employees State Insurance Act was passed in 1948. It aims to protect employees, as defined in the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, against the impact of incidences of sickness, maternity, disablement, and death due to employment injury and to provide medical care to the insured persons and their families
The scheme is compulsory and contributory. Compulsory, in the sense that all workers covered under the act ‘must be insured and contributory in the sense that it is financed by the contributions from employees and employers.
The administration of the ESI scheme has been entrusted to an autonomous body called the Employees State Insurance Corporation
3. Maternity Benefits Act 1961 (Revised 2017)
The Maternity Benefit Act aims to regulate of employment of women employees in certain establishments for certain periods before and after childbirth and provides for maternity and certain other benefits.
In 1961, the central act was enacted and in 2017 there was an amendment. The Act was applicable to all establishments which include factories, mines, plantations, Government establishments, shops and establishments under the relevant applicable legislation, or any other establishment as may be notified by the Central Government.
As per the Act, to be eligible for maternity benefit, a woman must have been working as an employee in an establishment for a period of at least 80 days within the past 12 months. Payment during the leave period is based on the average daily wage for the period of actual absence.
The duration of paid maternity leave available for women employees has been revised from the existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks. Maternity leave of 12 weeks to be available to mothers adopting a child below the age of three months from the date of adoption as well as to the "commissioning mothers". The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act has also introduced an enabling provision relating to "work from home" for women.
The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act makes creche facility mandatory for every establishment employing 50 or more employees.
4. Coalmines Provident Fund and Bonus Act 1948
An Act to make provision for the framing of a Provident Fund Scheme and a Bonus Scheme for persons employed in coal mines. Whereas it is expedient to make provision for the framing of a Provident Fund Scheme and a Bonus Scheme for persons employed. This Act may be called the Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1948. It extends to the whole of India.
The act was amended in 1950, 1951.and 1965. Under this Act two different schemes, i.e., the Coalmines Provident Fund Scheme and the Coalmines Bonus:
These schemes are in the application and have been amended several times. Under the Provident Fund Scheme, the employers contribute 8% of their total emolument to the fund and an equal contribution is made by the employees. In June 1963, a provision was made in the scheme whereby the members are allowed to contribute voluntarily up to another 8% of their emoluments. The scheme is administrated by a Board of Trustees, consisting of equal members of representatives of the Government, employers and employees. A Special Reserve Fund was set up to make the payment to outgoing members. A Death Relief Fund has also been set up to ensure a guaranteed minimum payment of Rs. 750: to the dependents of the deceased whose accumulations in the fund are Jess than the amount at the time of death. The employees Family Pension Scheme 1971 also applies to coalmine workers.
5. Employees Provident Fund Act 1952
Employees Provident Fund is established in 1952 and hence the act is named as Employees Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, which extend to the whole of India.
The Act was passed in 1952 covering factories employing 50 or more workers in 6 major industries. viz., iron and steel, textiles, engineering, cement, paper and cigarettes. By an amendment in 1960, the scheme was extended to all factories of five years standing and 20 or more workers.
An exemption has been made for new undertakings, for a period of 3 years, establishments employing between 20 and 50 persons are also exempted for 5 years. The scheme is contributory and compulsory. The employees and employers contribute 6 and 1/4% of the total emoluments. The employees may, however, contribute 8 and /3% of ‘the total emoluments. The rate of contribution of employees has been raised to 8% in some notified industries.
It is mandatory for an organisation employing more than 20 people to register with EPFO. While contributing towards EPF is mandatory for those earning basic wages of up to Rs 15,000. Those earning basic wages more than 15000 per month, EPF contribution is not mandatory.
A SPECIAL RESERVE FUND was made for making the payment to outgoing members. A Death Relief Fund has also been set up for affording financial assistance for the tune of Rs. 1000 to the nominees of the deceased whose pay does not exceed Rs. 500 p.m. at the time of death. The PROVIDENT FUND ACT 1952 was amended in 1971 to provide for the benefit of family pension to the members of the deceased in case of their death while in service.
6. Family Pension Scheme 1971 (revised 1995)
The Employees Pension Scheme of 1995 generates pension to the employees from the organized category after the age of 58. The pension is calculated based on the pensionable salary and pensionable service. The scheme provides widow pension, child pension and orphan pension as well.
In 1971, this scheme was launched for industrial workers covered by Provident Fund Schemes. The family pension is payable to the unmarried/widowed/divorced daughters above the age of 25 after all unmarried children have attained the 25 years of age or started earning their livelihood whichever is earlier.
7. Payment of Gratuity Act 1972
The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an act that provides a scheme for the payment of gratuity to employees working in railways, ports, factories, oilfields, plantations, mines, shops or other establishments and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Gratuity is a sort of retirement benefit.
Under this scheme, employees in factories, mines, oil fields, plantation, ports, railways etc. are entitled to gratuity after completing 5 years of service at the rate of 1/2 month’s wages for each completed years of service subject to a maximum of 20 months wages.
8. Old Age Pension Schemes
Various state governments and a few Central government schemes are available to senior citizens, the poor and destitute.
ⅰ National Pension Scheme (NPS): The NPS scheme was launched in the year 2004 by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India (PFRDA). This government pension scheme is designed to specifically provide financial security to senior citizens, post-retirement.
ⅱ Atal Pension Yojana (APY): This government pension scheme aims to provide pension benefits with a minimum contribution per month. The Atal pension scheme is mainly targeted to the unorganised sector and addresses the longevity risks amongst the workers of this sector. The APY scheme encourages the workers to voluntarily save for their retirement by giving minimum contribution on a monthly basis.
ⅲ Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana: The Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana provides social security and financial independence after retirement by offering an assured rate of return on the investments. This pension scheme is only offered by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and provides assured returns for 10 years.
ⅳ Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): The government pension schemes for senior citizens play a vital role in providing financial security amongst the elderly while also initiating economic development in certain crucial areas of society. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme is one such pension plans in India. The scheme was introduced by the Ministry of Rural Development of India in 2007 and is popularly known as the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
ⅴ Employee Pension Scheme (EPS): The EPF pension scheme was introduced by the government in 1995 and is also called as the Employees Pension Scheme 1995. The EPS scheme was launched by the Employee’s Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and its main aim is to provide social security to the employees. The old pension scheme provides pension to the employees working in the organized sectors during their retirement i.e., after the age of 58 years.
9. Compulsory Group Insurance
Compulsory insurance is any type of insurance an individual or business is legally required to buy. The provisions of Industrial and commercial employment (Standing orders) ordinance, 1968 makes it compulsory for the employers that they shall have the group insurance of all the permanent workmen working under their administration against the natural death and disability and death and injury arising out of contingencies. The scheme was introduced by the Central Government with the cooperation of the Life Insurance Corporation and applies to certain groups of workers. The employees contribute certain amount monthly towards the premium. If the member dies while in service, an amount of Rs. 10,000 is paid to the heir of the deceased. The U.P. Government has introduced the scheme for teachers, lawyers and police employees. The Government of Haryana has also taken certain steps.
10. Deposit-linked Insurance Scheme 1976
This scheme was launched on Ist August 1976 for the insurance benefit of employees covered under Employees Provident Fund Scheme, and Coalmines Provident Fund: Scheme. EPFO. The main objective of EPFO behind this scheme was to ensure that the family of members get financial assistance in case of death of the member. This scheme is financed by the Government and the employers.
11. Social Security Schemes, Certificates and Funding
Social security certificates were introduced on Ist June 1982. One can purchase these certificates provides his age is between 18 and 45 years. One can purchase maximum for an amount of not exceeding Rs. 5000. The holder of the certificate will get three times the amount invested after 10 years.
The certificates shall be issued in denominations of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000.
Similarly, National Savings Certificates, popularly known as NSC, is an Indian Government savings bond, primarily used for small savings and income tax saving investments in India. It is part of the postal savings system of India Post.
Note: Ministry of Labour and Employment is working on The Code on Social Security, 2019 Bill, replaces nine laws related to social security. These include the Employees’ Provident Fund Act, 1952, the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, and the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008. The National Commission on Labour (2002) (NCL) had emphasised the need for universal and comprehensive social security coverage to avoid deprivation of basic needs of workers and recommended the simplification and consolidation of existing laws towards this end.
Reference: The Code on Social Security, 2019 (web link)
About the Author
Neha Choudhary is pursuing her BBA LLB from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. She wants to pursue her career in Criminology and Cyber laws.
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