Labour Minister asks state governments to constitute Social Security Boards

New Delhi, Jan. 22 (ANI): Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has urged state governments to constitute a State Social Security Boards and formulate their rules under the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act 2008.

Speaking at the State Labour Ministers' Conference in New Delhi, Kharge said the enactment of this Act has been a landmark achievement, and the National Social Security Board formed at the Central level under this legislation, identifies suitable schemes for different sections of the unorganised workers and monitors the implementation of these schemes.

He said that the States would have to play a major role in achieving the objectives by constituting State Social Security Boards at the earliest.

Kharge said the Government is in the process of upgrading 100 Government ITIs under the domestic funding scheme and 400 Government ITIs are being upgraded through World Bank financing.

1396 ITIs are being taken up for upgradation through Public-private partnership, he said.

Kharge also informed that Employment Exchanges all over the country are being upgraded, which will be catered by a comprehensive website having detailed information for the requirements of the employers and the skilled manpower available in various categories.

Pointing out that the contract workers constitute approximately 28.9 percent of our workforce, Kharge said it is increasingly becoming "our responsibility to see that the interests of the contract workers are protected and their exploitation is prevented." (ANI)