 Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 25: Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the Coordinator for Labour-20 (L-20) Group of G-20 in India, is set to organize a seminar addressing the crucial topic of "Social Security for the Informal Sector: Scope, Opportunities, Challenges, and Way Forward." The event will take place on 28th June 2023 at the Jammu Club Auditorium, Jammu. Harbans Choudhary, the working President of BMS J&K, made this announcement during a press conference held at the state office, which was attended by Neelam Sharma, General Secretary of BMS, Ashok Choudhary, Sangathan Mantri of BMS, Som Dass, and Subash Chander.
Harbans Choudhary emphasized that BMS has been dedicatedly advocating for the rights of marginalized classes, particularly those working in the informal or unorganized sector, since its establishment in 1955. BMS is actively engaged in coordinating the Labor-20 events in India, as part of the G-20 Group. BMS J&K has decided to organize this seminar to shed light on the pressing issue of "Social Security for the Informal Sector." The esteemed event will be graced by the Honorable Advisor to LG, Rajeev Rai Bhatnager, and B Surenderen Ji, the All India Sanghathan Mantri of BMS, who serves as the Chief Coordinator for L-20 events in India.
Highlighting the current scenario, Harbans Choudhary emphasized that a vast population working in the informal sector, which constitutes over 93% of the total workforce, lacks proper social security. They are denied these benefits due to various statutory provisions and challenges stemming from different social welfare acts and labor laws. Additionally, there is a lack of comprehensive old-age social security, and the existing government schemes often fall short.
Neelam Sharma, the General Secretary of BMS, addressed the media and stressed that BMS provides legal support to marginalized classes, enabling them to fight for their legitimate dues, such as provident fund (PF), gratuity, and protection against illegal terminations. She highlighted the increasing prevalence of adhocism and contractism, promoted by the government, which further shrinks the scope of social security for the unorganized sector. These pressing issues necessitate raising awareness and bringing them into the public domain.
Ashok Choudhary pointed out the discrepancy between the government's acknowledgment that only 8-10% of the workforce is in the organized sector, while more than 90% constitutes the unorganized sector. He expressed concern over the absence of specific laws to protect individual workers in the unorganized sector when it comes to wage disputes. Exploitation of the working class by employers, who misuse and misinterpret laws and practices to safeguard their vested interests, is a critical issue that compromises the social security guaranteed to the working class under various legislations like the ID Act, EPFO, Trade Unions Act, and Gratuity Wages Act.
The BMS seminar aims to shed light on these crucial challenges faced by the informal sector workforce, empowering them through awareness, knowledge, and collective efforts to ensure their social security rights. |
