NAC push for law on social security

The National Advisory Council (NAC) is pushing for the enactment of an ‘‘Unorganised Sector Workers’ Social Security Bill&#14...

The National Advisory Council (NAC) is pushing for the enactment of an ‘‘Unorganised Sector Workers’ Social Security Bill’’, saying the UPA government could make it their ‘‘signature legislation’’.

Discussing a draft of the bill at its monthly meeting today, NAC members told chairperson Sonia Gandhi that if it becomes a law, it will be a huge step forward in making the country a social security state. The draft Bill covers the entire unorganised sector comprising almost 90 per cent of the country’s workforce, including farm labour.

The draft bill will be forwarded to the Ministry of Labour and Employment in a fortnight.

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The Bill includes maternity benefits, health and accident benefits, old age benefits and pension for the unorganised sector. The pension would be contributory, with the worker and the state pitching in. The implementation of the law is sought to be done through a network of government organisations, panchayats, NGOs and trade unions.

Sources said while there was unanimity on the need for the Bill, there were differences on the implementation of various provisions. ‘‘The vastness and complexities of the government sometimes makes the work counterproductive, making it difficult to translate policy into action and to bring about accountability,’’ a member pointed out. There were too many alibis for inaction, he said.

The NAC also discussed the issue of gender equality and urged the government to expedite a few pending bills.

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