Page 6 - Social Security

Widening social security cover

Draft code on social security & welfare would expand benefits

Your assets will determine if you get free safety net or not

Less well-off citizens keen to get social security from the government free of cost under the proposed universal social security scheme might have to state the value of their total fixed assets, such as house, jewellery and electronic goods. At present, social security benefits in India are restricted to the formal sector. The labour ministry has proposed universal social security coverage -- preventive and general practitioner care, benefits for sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injury, maternity and invalidity.The ministry has proposed to gauge what should be the minimum wage for the unorganised and self-employed poor through the value of their total fixed assets. Those above the threshold sought to be fixed might be asked to pay something for the social security benefit. The draft code, circulated by the ministry, says a subscriber to the fund proposed in this regard, whose monthly income is higher than the minimum wage, would have to pay for the benefits. For those ...

Govt plans all social security for workers

Rules being drafted, to also cover unorganised sector; maternity benefit, old age pension, sickness allowance to be included

Social security pact with Japan to be effective from October

India till date has signed SSA with 19 countries and SSAs have been in operation with 15 countries so far

Letters: Focus on social security

Apropos the report, "Govt buries EPF tax", I wonder why the government did not think through and consult stakeholders before proposing the tax in the first place?Having said that, the National Democratic Alliance government accepted the people's request graciously and reversed the decision within a week of presenting the Budget proposal.The government has the right intention when it says that it wants to build a pensioned society. The bigger problem is the lack of adequate health care services for retired people, compared to the system, say, in the USA.Like the Public Provident Fund, the National Pension System should come under the exempt-exempt-exempt tax bracket, so that it would be preferred as much as the former is by the middle class. Hopefully, this issue will prompt the government to focus on strengthening social security benefits.Bal Govind NoidaLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax