09 Dec, 2014 08:40 AM

Lok Sabha Q&A : Details of Contract Labour working in Central Sphere

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1227

ANSWERED ON 01.12.2014

1227 . Owaisi Shri Asaduddin, Ahlawat Smt. Santosh, Rao (Avnthi) Shri Muthamsetti Srinivasa

Chowdhury Shri Adhir Ranjan
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-

(a)the estimated number of workers both in the formal and informal sectors and the percentage of such contract labour employed to the total labour force in the country;

(b)whether a large number of organizations in the Government departments/public/private sectors engage contract labour;

(c) if so, the details of provision and laws for employing contract labour in an establishment;

(d) whether these contract labourers are out of the purview of welfare legislations such as free health facilities etc. and are deprived of minimum wages and social security cover;

(e) if so, the number of complaints received by the Government regarding irregularities and non-compliances of labour laws in this regard along with the details of action taken against such establishments which violate the statutory provisions under all labour laws; and

(f) whether the Government has any proposal to re-visit its policy on contractual employment and amend the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 to prevent rampant systematic casualization and contractualization of the labour force and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a): The information with regard to workers in formal and informal sectors is not centrally maintained. However, the number of contract labour engaged in the Central Sphere is 21,12,715 (approx.)

(b): Yes, Madam. Information is enclosed as Annexure ‘B’.

(c) & (d): The employment of contract labour is mainly governed by provisions of Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 and rules 1971. Further they are also getting benefits under various social welfare legislation like Employees State Insurance Act, 1948, Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, Employees Compensation Act, 1923, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996.

(e): the information with regard to complaints are not maintained centrally. However data with regard to no. of Inspections, no. of violations, no. of prosecutions etc. is placed as Annexure ‘A’.

(f): No, Madam.