Organized and Unorganized Unemployment Livelihood Report
Reports related to the impact of COVID-19 on rising unemployment and loss of jobs and livelihoods in organized and unorganized sectors were presented in the House.
This report has been presented to the Parliament by the Standing Committee on Labour.
In this the following facts have been noted:
- According to this report, in the year 2020, almost half of the formal salaried workers shifted to informal jobs.
- The overall unemployment rate had increased from 4% to 25.8% as of March 2020.
- More than 400 million workers in the informal sector in India suffer from widespread poverty. (According to “International Labor Organization’s Monitor 2nd Edition: COVID-19 and the World of Work”)
Suggestion
- Cash transfer should be arranged for informal workers during adverse conditions like COVID-19.
- Loans given to street vendors under PM-SVANidhi scheme should be converted into direct cash grants. Under the “PM-Svanidhi Yojana”, street vendors can get working capital loans up to Rs.10,000.
- An increase in the maximum days of guaranteed employment under MGNREGA and compulsory health insurance should be provided to the workers.
- Employment guarantee program should be prepared for the workers in line with MNREGA.
- Formalizing the nature of employment, increasing productivity, strengthening existing livelihoods, etc. are the key priority areas to reduce the impact of COVID-19.
Measures taken by the Government during COVID-19:
- Self-reliant India Employment Scheme.
- One Nation One Ration Card.
- Prime Minister Garib Kalyan
- Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan.
- Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support (SWADES).
Source – The Hindu
