The Progress of Social Security Measures for Labourers in India

Social security has gained paramount importance in the changed economic scenario. Social security programmes are actively undertaken even in developed nations. The USA social security administration points out that it is much more than retirement program. One in Six Americans (57 million) receives social security benefits in USA. India also has enacted many social security measures for its needy citizens. In order to protect the welfare of unorganized workers the legislative measures namely minimunm wages Act, 1948, the employees compensation Act, 1923, the maternity benefit Act, 1961, the bonded labour system (Abolition) Act, 1976, the contract labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, the inter-state migrant workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, the building and other construction workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, etc. were implemented. At the same time to ensure welfare of unorganized workers various welfare schemes was also undertaken by the government. The ministry of labour and employment enacted "The Unorganized Workers Social Security Act 2008" which came into force from 16th May 2009. The unorganized sector is fast expanding; hence government through its social security measures must provide the safety net to the needy workers. The entire ambit of unorganized sector should be covered by insurance and social security sehemes so as to mitigate risk in this sector and boost the confidence of the workers. Government through its social security measures must cater to the disadvantaged.sections of the society and it is the fundamental duty of the government in the globalized India