Shramik Samparka Abhiyan in Gangtok organised by GMC and Labour Dept. Sikkim

PRESS RELEASE

Labour Department of Sikkim in collaboration with Gangtok Municipal Corporation commenced two week long campaign,  Shramik Samparka Abhiyan in Gangtok on 9^th May 2022 with the objective of creating awareness to simplify process of registering workers and benefits under various Labor Acts.

The innagrual ceremony for campaign, Shramik Samparka Abhiyan, was held in Gangtok on the presence of Mayor of Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Nell Bahadur Chettri, as a Chief Guest, Deputy Mayor of Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Tshering Palden Bhutia, as a Guest of Honour, Counsellors from in and around Gangtok, Secretary Labour Department, IAS Namrata Tamang.

Shramik Samparka Abhiyan mainly focuses on the awareness campaign regarding registration of workers and benefits of registration under three major Labour Acts:

1. Sikkim Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1983
2. Sikkim Labour (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of Service) Act, 2021
3. Building and Other Construction Worker (Regulation of Employmrnt & Conditions of Service) Act, 1996

Building and Other Construction Worker Act (BOCW ACT)

BOCW Act is “an act to regulate the employment &  conditions of service & building & other construction worker to provide for their safety, health & welfare measures and for other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”, says the preamble of BOCW Act.

Navin Sharma, Labour Inspector, while explaning the BOCW Act said, “the process for registration of workers under the said act is, firstly, construction contractor need to register establishment under labour Department as ‘Registration of Establishment’, when or if 10 or more workers are permanent workers, only after that the workers can be registered under the act.” He further added, “the procedure for registration is simple and takes only few steps, first, procurement of Demand Draft by construction contractor for sum of money amounting Rs 40 for each worker, and second, filling up the format provided by the authorities. In order to register worker should be in between 18 to 60 years of age and worker should have workeds as a contruction worker for 90 days in the preceeding of twelve months.”

He futher shared the Financial benefits under the act, which includes assistance for both registered worker and dependent. The benefits he mentioned are as follows:

• If registered worker or dependent, is getting married, financial assistance of Rs 20,000 will be provided.
• Medical assistance of Rs 20,000 will be provided to registered worker and dependent.
• Rs 30,000 will be provided for the maternity assistance.
• If someone dies in the family of registered worker, financial assistance of Rs 20,000 will be provided as funeral aid.
• In case of minor injuries while working, aid of Rs 20,000 will be provided.
• If registered worker suffered with the partial disability, financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to Rs 2,00,000 will be provided according to diagonis by doctor.
• If registered worker suffer permanent disability, he/she will be provided 5,00,000 as the aid.
• In case of Natural Death, except accidental death, assistance of Rs 2,00,000 will be provided to dependent.

eSHRAM

eSHRAM registers the unorganised workers under the Unorganised Workers Social Society Act, 2008. Unorganised workers include, small and marginal farmers, Agricultural Labourers, BOC Workers, Carpenters, those engaged in Animal Husbandry, Domestic Workers such as Maids, NREGA workers, ASHA Workers, Migrant Workers, Vegetable & Food Vendors, Fishermen, Barbers, newspaper vendors, street vendors, etc. Worker to be registered under eSHRAM should meet the criteria which are,

• Workers should be between 16 to 59 years,
• Workers must be registered under EPF (Employment Provident Fund) and ESIC (Employees’ State Insurance Scheme),
• Worker must be working on unorganised sector

Nabin Sharma, Labour inspector, while explaining the eSHRAM pointed out the benefits of registering under the eSHRAM. It provide the registered worker with insurance of Rs 2,00,000, in case of accident under the PM Surakcha Bima Yojna & he/she will also be compensated with financial aid of Rs 1,00,000 for partial disability.

Sikkim Shops and Commercial Establishment Act

“This act says that commercial establishment and shops, must register under the Labour Department, GoS, within 30 days of issuance of trade licence and if they fail to do so, fine if Rs 3 pet day will be charged as a late fee”, says Nabin Sharma.

Sikkim Labour (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of Service) Act

“This act was passed for the sole purpose of registration of the worker by Government of Sikkim. This act replaced the original act, Sikkim Labour Protection Act, 2005 in 2021. Government of Sikkim passed this act to keep data of the workers working in Sikkim. ID Proofs required for registration under this act is Aadhar Card and Voter Card and process for registration can be done either online or by visiting the registration centre, where form no. 9 and Bank Receipt of Rs 200 is mandatory along with mentioned documents”, says Nabin Sharma. He further added, “in order to register online, the link for website is, www.labour.sikkim.gov.in”

IAS Namrata Thapa, Secretary, Labour Department while addressing the present personnel, said, “Shramik Samparka Abhiyan in tune with vision of Chief Minister, focuses on the door to door awareness to simplify the process for registering workers and to hear the grievances of the workers”. She added, “Government of India and Government of Sikkim, are aiming towards making every department and offices, paperless, so Labour Department are moving towards online registration process.”

In the last, as mentioned above Shramik Samparka Abhiyan, focuses on door to door awareness regarding merits of registering under the said acts, they are organising state wife awareness programme where workers can inquire and register themselves in the presence of officials, who are there to help them. The date and venue for the campaign are as follows:

• MG Marg – 9^th to 17^th June 2022
• Chandmari, Rongay, Tathangchen – 9^th to 13^th June 2022
• Bojoghari, Penlong and surrounding areas – 9^th to 13^th June 2022
• Ranipool – 13^th to 16^th June 2022
• Singtam – 13^th to 21^st June 2022
• Dikchu and Makha – 22^nd June 2022
• Sang and Rumtek – 23^rd June 2022
• 32 Number and Rey Khola – 24^th June 2022