Date:22/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/22/stories/2008082255371400.htm

National

Amendments to unorganised workers Bill approved

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved some amendments to expand the ambit of a Bill providing social security schemes to unorganised workers.

The amendments to the Unorganised Sector Workers’ Social Security Bill 2007 seek to facilitate formulation of social security schemes for unorganised workers, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

He said efforts would be made to ensure passage of the Bill in the next session of Parliament.

Bill may be renamed

It is believed that the government intends to rename the Bill by dropping the word ‘sector’ from the title of the draft legislation as suggested by a Parliamentary Standing Committee, with a view to ensuring that unorganised workers employed in the organised sector are also covered. The Ministry is also examining whether volunteers, working under various welfare schemes like aanganwadis, could be covered under the proposed Bill.