Blog

General Studies-II

Topic– Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Social Security Code, 2020

Context:

Section 142 of the Social Security Code, 2020 has been notified by Ministry of Labour & Employment covering applicability of Aaadhar.

• The notification of section will enable Ministry of Labour and Employment to collect Aaadhar details for the database of beneficiaries under various social security schemes.
• The section has been notified only for collection of data of workers including migrant workers.
• No benefit will be denied to workers for want of Aaadhar.

The Code on Social Security 2020:

The Social Security Code, 2020 (SS Code) was received Presidential assent on September 28, 2020.

• The SS Code was enacted to amend and consolidate the laws relating to social security.
• It aims to extend social security to all employees and workers either in the organised or unorganised or any other sectors.
• The SS Code has vital provisions with respect to social security benefits to workers including gig workers.

Key Definitions under the SS Code:

Aggregator: has been defined as a digital intermediary or a market place for a buyer or user of a service to connect with the seller or the service provider.

Employee: has been defined as any person (other than an apprentice) employed on wages by an establishment, either directly or through a contractor, to do any skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled, manual, operational, supervisory, managerial, administrative, technical, clerical or any other work, whether the terms of employment be express or implied.

Gig Worker: defined as a person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of traditional employer-employee relationship.

Platform Work: has been defined as a work arrangement outside of a traditional employer employee relationship in which organisations or individuals use an online platform to access other organisations or individuals to solve specific problems or to provide specific services or any such other activities which may be notified by the Central Government, in exchange for payment and a “platform worker” has been defined as a person engaged in or undertaking Platform Work.

Social Security: means the measures of protection afforded to employees, unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers to ensure access to health care and to provide income security, particularly in cases of old age, unemployment, sickness, invalidity, work injury, maternity or loss of a breadwinner by means of rights conferred on them and schemes framed, under the SS Code.

Unorganised Sector: means an enterprise owned by individuals or self-employed workers and engaged in the production or sale of goods or providing service of any kind whatsoever, and where the enterprise employs workers, the number of such workers is less than ten (10).

Unorganised Worker: means a home-based worker, self-employed worker or a wage worker in the Unorganised Sector.

Key Highlights of Social Security 2020:

• It lays down the procedure of Registration for every establishment to which the SS Code applies, to be performed electronically, or otherwise.
• Also, the provision for cancellation of registration is also provided, if the establishment’s business activities are in the process of closure.
• Formation of several bodies called Social Security Organisations for administering the provident fund schemes, pension fund schemes and insurance schemes for gig workers, platform workers and unorganized workers.
• Formation of national and state-level Social Security Boards to administer and monitor the social welfare schemes, review the record keeping functions performed at the State level and also review the expenditure from the fund and account for unorganized workers, gig workers and platform workers.
• The EPF, EPS, EDLI and ESI schemes will be financed through contributions from the employer and the employee.
• Formation of state-level Building Workers’ Welfare Boards, headed by a Chairperson nominated by the state government.
• It reduces term for the payment of gratuity to 3 years (from 5 years) for working journalists.
• Recognition to gig workers, platform workers and unorganised workers to provide them with schemes relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, creche, and other benefits as the government may determine.
• The provision to establish social security funds to be established for gig, platform and unorganised workers.
• Registration of building workers who has completed 18 years of age, but has not completed sixty years of age, and who has been engaged in any building or other construction work for not less than ninety days during the preceding twelve months, as a beneficiary.
• Registration of unorganized workers, gig workers and platform workers for availing the benefits under the schemes.
• Provision to report vacancies to career centers (including employment exchange, place or portal). The employer though will not be obligated to hire any person through the career centre.

Significance:

New-age businesses that thrive on e-commerce have created new types of jobs. Some of the workers in these new businesses were not covered under any of the existing laws.

• The new Social Security Code expands the scope of social security by providing for registration of all types of workers including gig workers, unorganised workers and platform workers.
• Therefore, in terms of coverage the scope has been expanded. Gig workers will now become eligible for life and disability coverage, maternity benefits, pension etc.

 

General Studies-II

Topic– Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Global Innovation Partnership (GIP)

Context:

The Union Cabinet gives ex-post facto approval to the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of Republic of India and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom on Global Innovation Partnership (GIP).

Objectives:

Through this MoU, India and UK agree to launch the Global Innovation Partnership.

• GIP will support Indian innovators to scale up their innovations in third countries thereby helping them explore new markets and become self-sustainable.
• It will also foster the innovative ecosystem in India.
• GIP innovations will focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related sectors thereby assisting recipient countries achieve their SDGs.
• Through seed funding, grants, investments and technical assistance, the Partnership will support Indian entrepreneurs and innovators to test, scale up and take their innovative development solutions to select developing countries.
• GIP will also develop an open and inclusive e-market place (E-BAAZAR) for cross border innovation transfer and will focus on results based impact assessment thereby promoting transparency and accountability.

Significance:

The innovations selected under GIP would accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and benefit the base of the pyramid populations thus promoting equity and inclusivity in recipient countries.

General Studies-II

Topic– Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Migration and Mobility Partnership between India and UK

Context:

The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration and Mobility Partnership between the Government of the Republic of India and Her Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Objectives:

• The MoU is aimed at Liberalising issuance of visas promoting mobility of students, researchers and skilled professionals.
• It will also strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides.

Significance:

• The MoU would benefit Indian students, academics, and researchers, migrants for professional and economic reasons and those willing to contribute through various projects to the economic development of both countries without consideration of caste, creed, religion or gender.
• This MoU can support the innovation ecosystem in both countries by facilitating free flow of talent.

Ministry of External Affairs would closely monitor the effective implementation of the MoU through Joint Working Group mechanism.

Chrome facts for Prelims

Disinvestment and transfer of management control in IDBI Bank

Cabinet approves strategic disinvestment and transfer of management control in IDBI Bank Limited.

• The extent of respective shareholding to be divested by GoI and LIC shall be decided at the time of structuring of transaction in consultation with RBI.
• Government of India (GoI) and LIC together own more than 94% of equity of IDBI Bank (GoI 45.48%, LIC 49.24%).
• LIC is currently the promoter of IDBI Bank with Management Control and GoI is the co-promoter.
• It is expected that strategic buyer will infuse funds, new technology and best management practices for optimal development of business potential and growth of IDBI Bank Ltd.
• Resources through strategic disinvestment of Govt. equity from the transaction would be used to finance developmental programmes of the Government benefiting the citizens.

Moorhen Yoga Mat:

It is a biodegradable and compostable yoga mat, called ‘Moorhen Yoga Mat’, developed from water hyacinth by six young girls from the fishing community in Assam.

• The mat will soon be introduced to the world market as a unique product.
• The intervention was triggered through an initiative by North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), to involve the entire women community associated with a collective called ‘Simang’ meaning dream, led by the 6 girls to create wealth from water hyacinth plants.