Code on Social Security, 2020 The definition of employees h | UPSC PIB NEWS
Code on Social Security, 2020
The definition of employees has been widened to include inter-state migrant workers, construction workers, film industry workers and platform workers.
The gratuity period for working journalists has been reduced from 5 years to 3 years.
The Code talks about setting up social security funds for unorganized workers, platform workers, and gig workers.
There is a provision for the central government to decrease or defer the employer’s or employee’s contribution towards the PF or ESI for up to 3 months in the event of a pandemic, national disaster or an epidemic.
The Code proposes the establishment of a National Social Security Board for recommending to the central government the formulation of schemes for the various sections of unorganised, gig and platform workers.
Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020
The major provisions of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code are mentioned below.
The Code expands the definition of a factory as a premise where at least 20 workers work for a process with power and 40 workers for a process without power.
The Code removes the manpower limit on hazardous working conditions and makes the application of the Code obligatory for contractors recruiting 50 or more workers (earlier it was 20).
The Code fixes the daily work hour limit to a maximum of eight hours.
The Code empowers women to be employed in all kinds of establishments and at night (between 7 PM and 6 AM) subject to their consent and safety.
To encourage formalisation in employment, the employer is required to issue an appointment letter.
The Code defines an inter-state migrant worker as someone who has come on his/her own from one state and received employment in another state and earns up to Rs.18000 per month.
Portability benefits for inter-state migrant workers
◆ They can avail benefits in the destination state as regards ration and benefits of building and other construction worker cess.
However, the Code has dropped the earlier provision for temporary accommodation for workers near worksites.
The Code also proposes a Journey Allowance – this is a lump sum fare amount to be paid by the employer for the journey of the worker from his/her native state to the place of employment.
Many of the provisions of the codes have been termed as anti-worker by trade unions and workers’ organizations. Some experts say that they give more power to the employer especially to hire and fire arbitrarily
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