Deploy More Mobile ATMs In Areas With Large Workforce: Bandaru Dattatreya

Business

oi-Sunil Fernandes

The Union Labour Ministry has requested the Finance Ministry for deploying more mobile automated teller machines (ATMs) in areas like construction sites an

By Sunil Fernandes

Published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 8:49 [IST]

The Union Labour Ministry has requested the Finance Ministry for deploying more mobile automated teller machines (ATMs) in areas like construction sites and others where there is workforce in large numbers, Minister of State (I/C) for Labour and Employment, Mr Bandaru Dattatreya said at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi today.

"Speedy implementation is necessary, for that even our ministry has reviewed, we have given instructions to all state governments and we are requesting the Finance Minister, to see that wherever there is large number of workforce, number of mobile-ATMs should be increased," said Mr Dattatreya at an "ASSOCHAM Conference on India's Social Security Agreements."

"Regarding the workers' areas, we are identifying areas where there is large workforce like construction sites and others," he said.

"Yesterday I had met the Finance Minister and I have given some suggestions, in which one is this," he added.

He also said that he had requested Union Finance Minister to give more priority to the workforce engaged in the unorganised sector in the upcoming Union Budget.

The Minister informed that the Labour Ministry which already has social security agreements with about 19 countries, is working out such agreements with other countries. "Our focus is now going to be on BRICS and SAARC countries also as social security agreements are very-very important for migrant workers."

He said that his Ministry would also be giving more priority to the unorganised sector in terms of social security. "There are about five crore construction workers, for them there is no social security but we have converted all of them in to organised workforce and now they will get ESIC (Employee's State Insurance Corporation) and EPFO, we are conducting speedy mechanism."

Mr Dattatreya also informed that the Labour Ministry is going to extend social security net for scheme workers including - anganwadi workers, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, mid-day meal workers and others.