Welfare Policy in India

State and municipal governments are involved in the creation and execution of social security policies, while the Central Government of India devotes a significant amount of its official budget to welfare and social programmes. Different state governments also conduct distinct welfare measure programmes. When distributing welfare benefits in India, the government makes use of the unique identifying number (Aadhar) that each and every Indian has.

Workers’ Provident Fund Association

A pension plan of this kind is called provident financing. Every public, private, and self-employed person is required to comply with The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1952. Every working individual is assigned a 12-digit number known as a Universal Account Number (UAN) under this federal act, which is specific to workers who make EPF contributions. It will be produced by EPFO for every PF member. The UAN will serve as a substitute for any numerous Member IDs that may be assigned to a person by other organisations and will stay constant for the duration of the employee’s employment. When occupations change, it stays the same. Several Member Identification Numbers (Member Id) assigned to a single member are intended to be linked under a single Universal Account Number. The member will be able to examine information of every Member Identification Number (Member Id) associated with it thanks to this. Ten percent of the employee’s monthly pay is deposited into this account, and the company matches that contribution.

One of the main advantages of the Universal Account Number, or UAN, is that it will make it simple to tag several Employee Provident Fund Member IDs under one number, which will cut down on confusion. The UAN will facilitate simple claim transfers and withdrawals. In addition, UAN numbers may be used to deliver services like online pass-book, online KYC updates, and SMS services with each contribution deposit. With the use of UAN, an individual may move funds from one EPF account to another.

A new UAN site has been launched to allow you to monitor your EPF balance. It now offers a wealth of information, including how to check your UAN status, download your UAN EPF passbook, check your EPF amount, make a provident fund claim, and much more.

If all of the workers’ KYC information is updated, EPFO has begun to reimburse administrative fees. The 2016–2017 reward scheme is now available.

If a member is unable to withdraw PF for any reason, they may do so without their employer’s permission. The EPFO office where their EPF account is maintained will accept FORM 19 for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and FORM 10C for the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) with the official’s attestation of any of the following. The Universal Account Number (UAN) that EPFO provides is primarily used to track PF balance and PF claim status. Then, you must go to the closest EPFO office to activate this. Without activation, you won’t be able to monitor your PF status and balance.

National Insurance Plans for Health

India is home to many governmental and commercial health insurance providers that serve the country’s middle class. The government offers a health insurance scheme called Ayushman Bharat Yogna for underprivileged Indians. This programme covers expenditures for three days of pre-hospitalization and fifteen days of post-hospitalization. Additionally, almost 1,400 treatments are covered, along with any associated costs including OT expenditures. All things considered, PMJAY and the e-card provide coverage of Rs. 5 lakh ($6860) per family, annually, making it easier for those from low-income backgrounds to get healthcare services.

1948 Factories Act:

The Factories Act of 1948 is the main legislation in India that provides for many labour welfare initiatives. All enterprises that employ ten or more people while power is used, twenty or more workers when electricity is not utilised, and industrial processes are conducted are covered by the Act.

Employee Welfare Officer: According to Section 49 of the Factories Act, the employer must designate at least one welfare officer in each plant with 500 or more regular employees.

The welfare officer should have the following qualifications: I a bachelor’s degree; (ii) a social service, social work, or social welfare degree or diploma from an accredited institution; and (iii) sufficient command of the language used by the majority of the workforce in the region where the factory is located.

• Supervision
• counsellors in the field
• Giving managerial advice
• Developing a relationship with employees
• collaborating with employees and management to increase output.
• collaborating with the general public to ensure that different acts are properly enforced.

Workers’ Health:

Cleanliness: Every factory must be maintained spotless by regularly cleaning or sweeping the floors and work areas, as well as applying disinfectant as needed.

Waste and Effluent Disposal: Appropriate measures must be taken to dispose of wastes and turn them into harmless substances.

Temperature and Ventilation: Appropriate measures must be taken to regulate the temperature and ventilation to keep employees comfortable and shield their health from harm.

Dust and Fume: At the workplace, effective precautions must be taken to avoid the inhalation and buildup of dust, fumes, and other contaminants.

Artificial Humidification: The State Government is required to establish regulations outlining the necessary techniques and standards for humidification.

Overcrowding: Any work room in a factory that is already in operation on the day this act begins must have at least 9.9 cubic metres of space, and every factory created after this date must have at least 4.2 cubic metres of space for each employee.

Lighting: Sufficient and appropriate lighting requirements may be imposed by the State Government.

Drinking Water: A good plan must be in place to provide workers with clean drinking water at convenient locations.

Latrines and Urinals: A sufficient number of clean, well-ventilated, conveniently located, and constructed in accordance with specified specifications latrines and urinals for male and female employees are required.

Spittoons: The factory must have an adequate number of spittoons positioned in handy locations..