Social Security for Unorganised Workers: Report

The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) was set up in 2004 by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government as an advisory body and a watchdog for the informal sector. This report by the NCEUS recommended a social security scheme for unorganised workers, which would cover minimum benefits such as old age pension, life insurance, maternity benefit, disability benefit (accident compensation), minimum healthcare and sickness benefit. The NCEUS argued that the government needed to move beyond limited social assistance schemes and introduce a full-fledged social security programme for all kinds of workers, especially unorganised workers. The Commission also drafted the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Bill, which forms part two of this report.