The government is examining a proposal to impose a social security tax for the welfare of workers in unorganised sector as recommended by the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS), the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
In this regard, the Unorganised Sector Workers Social Security Bill, which may incorporate this recommendation, is likely to be tabled in the current session of Parliament, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes said in a written reply.
"NCEUS has recommended minimum social security benefits for unorganised sector workers which include life and disability cover, health insurance, old age protection and any other scheme as deemed neccessary," he said.
In reply to another question, the minister said between 2004 and 2006, as many as 4,668 workers died in industrial accidents in factories, ports and mines.
Maximum number of industrial accidents in factories were reported from Gujarat, where 605 workers died during the period. It was followed by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, where 503 and 381 persons were killed in industrial accidents.
In mines, 542 persons died in different accidents during the three-year period, he said.
Replying to another query, the minister said as per 2001 census, 1.26 crore children were engaged in child labour. Government is considering to conduct a survey to identify the number of child labourers in the country, he said.
Under the National Child Labour Protection Projects, he said, so far 4.57 lakh children have been brought into formal education system.
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