"Labour Ministry has requested Finance Ministry for deploying more mobile ATMs in areas like construction sites and others where there is workforce in large number," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said at conference here as per an Assocham statement.
"Speedy implementation is necessary, for that even our ministry has reviewed, we have given instructions to all state governments and we are requesting the Finance Minister to see that wherever there is large number of workforce, number of mobile-ATMs should be increased," said Dattatreya.
"Yesterday I had met the Finance Minister and I have given some suggestions, in which one is this," he added.
He also said that he had requested Finance Minister to give more priority to the workforce engaged in the unorganised sector in the upcoming Union Budget.
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The Labour Ministry, which already has social security agreements with about 19 countries to protect Indian workers' interest, is working out such pacts with other nations as well, he said.
"Our focus is now going to be on BRICS and SAARC countries also as social security agreements are very-very important for migrant workers," he said.
"There are about five crore construction workers, for them there is no social security but we have converted all of them into organised workforce and now they will get (benefit of schemes run by) ESIC and EPFO."
Dattatreya also informed that the Labour Ministry is going to extend social security net for scheme workers including - anganwadi workers, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, mid-day meal workers and others.
"They have been working for about 28-30 years, they do not have any help or pension, so there are two things - health coverage and pensions, these two things will be covered under social security," he said.
India programme will play a critical role in spreading social security net across the country.
"India is a nation of 125 crore people, it cannot be run by old and traditional ways unless we use technology and unless we go for reforms. Only then India will be competitive with other countries," said Dattatreya.
"We are going with speedy reforms in the EPFO, with Shram Suvidha portal, the technology mode and innovations in its business process, the claims settlement has come 100 per cent and smooth operations of accounts is done in a single day," he added.
"As of now we have (social security) agreements with 19 countries. We would like to increase the number of countries ...So that all industry and workers are benefited including both Indians working abroad and foreign nationals who come to work in India," said Joy.
He further said, "On December 1, we are launching three softwares - ECR (Electronic Challan-cum-Return), new version of UAN (Universal Account Number) and a software for direct benefit of PMRPY program."
Informing that EPFO had centralised its computer system, Joy said, "All over the country out of our 123 offices, as of today 30 offices are working on a central computer in Delhi and all data is being shifted to this."
"Once the centralisation of data takes place, we will be able to do (provide) large number of benefits and reforms to our system, to benefit the employees and workers, so it will become very easy for the workers," he said.
He said the government is issuing a notification for making Aadhar also kind of compulsory for workers so that their benefits can be instantly transferred.
Joy also informed that EPFO had started a scheme whereby in the industry when the workers retire their benefits should be given on the date of retirement.
He also said that EPFO would like to extend it to the international workers working in India, but for only those who are eligible upon termination of their employment without delay in an online system.
"We will put this mechanism in place in a very short time, definitely within three months time and this will promote ease of doing business," added Joy.