Delhi to fast track rollout of social security for unorganised sector

NEW DELHI: Delhi's Labour Minister Kapil Mishra has instructed officials to speed up the process of bringing unorganised workers, gig and platform workers, and construction workers within the framework of social security while placing strong emphasis on ensuring that Delhi's rules are aligned with those formulated by the Central Government.

The Labour Minister reviewed the state of preparedness for the publication and notification of rules under the Code on Social Security, 2020, which is intended to provide a wide range of welfare benefits to workers in the unorganised sector. The review meeting was attended by the labour commissioner along with other senior officers of the labour department.

Mishra was apprised of the progress made in framing rules under all four Labour Codes—the Code on Wages, the Code on Industrial Relations, the Code on Social Security, and the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions. The Minister underlined that the benefits of various welfare schemes must be delivered to unorganised workers, gig and platform workers, and construction workers in a timely, efficient, and transparent manner.

Referring to the larger labour reforms, Mishra stated that the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, has brought together 29 existing labour laws into four comprehensive Labour Codes. "These Labour Codes are aimed at safeguarding workers' rights, encouraging ease of doing business, and substantially expanding the scope of social security coverage," he said. The unorganised workers, along with gig and platforms workers, have been formally brought within the purview of the Code on Social Security, 2020 to ensure that they are able to access a variety of social security benefits. It has been also extended to construction workers, who were previously governed under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, 1996.

The Labour Minister directed officials to undertake a detailed study of the rules pre-published by the Central Government and to ensure that Delhi's rules are aligned wherever required. He pointed out that maintaining uniformity with the Central rules would help prevent inconvenience to workers and facilitate smooth and seamless implementation across different states. Mishra further instructed the department to complete and finalise all pending rules at the earliest possible stage so that the maximum benefits under all four Labour Codes can be extended to workers in Delhi without any delay.

Reiterating the commitment of the Delhi Government, he emphasised that the welfare and interests of workers remain the highest priority and that no delay in the implementation of these reforms will be tolerated.