Universal Social Security
Three fundamental questions need be answered while addressing the insecurity of workers in the informal sector in India.
Where do workers in the informal sector derive their insecurity from?
From …seven essential securities which are often denied them: labour market security…; employment security…; job security…; work security…; skill reproduction security…; income security…; and representation security…
Decent Work and Informal Economy, Report VI, International Labour Conference, 90th Session 2002, International Labour Office, Geneva
What is social security?
Social Security caters to the universal human need for reassurance and support in times of unemployment, illness, disability, death and old age. The State bears the primary responsibility for developing appropriate systems for providing protection and assistance to its workforce and their families.
Chapter 6: Social Security, Annual Report 2005-2006, Ministry of Labour, Government of India
What is the problem of social security in India?
The Social Security schemes in India cover only a small segment of the organized work force, which may be defined as workers who are having a direct regular employer-employee relationship within an organization. The social security legislation in India derives their strength and spirit from the Directive Principles of the State Policy as contained in the Constitution of India.
Chapter 6: Social Security, Annual Report 2006-2007, Ministry of Labour, Government of India
Social security is a necessary but insufficient provision for removing the insecurity of workers in the informal sector. In order to remove insecurities of workers in the informal sector concurrent and simultaneous legislation must be put in place to regulate employment and conditions of work in the informal sector alongside legislation for universal social security.
Social security legislation that covers the poorest section of the workforce must be universal in its reach and coverage and must provide for such benefits that are caused by inability to access gainful employment. By implication, a universal social security benefit must be aimed at all citizens and not just workers. Core benefits as defined as the minimum provision of benefits must by their very nature be non contributory.
The key component of NTUI’s formulation was that there should be a clear definition of a National Minimum Social Security Benefit. The National Minimum should comprise of a pension which is 50% of the minimum wage and a comprehensive health care benefit that includes employment injury benefit, including provision for wages when recovering from employment injury; includes coverage for hospitalisation, accidents, diseases caused by occupational health hazards and maternity benefit. All benefits to also include dependents.