In news Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) on employment and unemployment is conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The annual PLFS data is available upto 2018-19. As per the results of annual PLFS, the unemployment rate for persons of 15 years and above in India to the extent available during 2017-18 and 2018-19 was 6.0% and 5.8%, respectively.
Initiatives to promote employment by India
Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY)
Launched on 1st October, 2020
To incentivize employers for creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of employment.
This scheme being implemented through EPFO seeks to reduce the financial burden of the employers and encourages them to hire more workers.
Under ABRY, Government of India is providing for a period of two years, both the employees’ share (12% of wages) and employers’ share (12% of wages) of contribution or only employees’ share of contribution depending on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments, for new employees whose monthly wage is less than Rs. 15,000/- per month.
The new employees under the scheme includes those who have lost their employment during Covid-19 pandemic and did not join any EPF covered establishment upto 30.09.2020.
The terminal date for registration of beneficiary under the scheme has been extended from 30th June, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY):
Government of India has contributed both 12% employer’s share and 12% employee’s share under Employees Provident Fund (EPF), totalling 24% of the wage for the wage month from March to August, 2020 for the establishments having 100 employees with 90% of such employees earning less than Rs. 15000/-.
This has helped in providing employment in EPFO registered establishments during post Covid period.
PM- SVANidhi Scheme has facilitated collateral free working capital loan upto Rs.10,000/- for one-year tenure to street vendors, to help them resume their businesses during the post Covid period.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is being implemented by the Government inter alia, for facilitating self-employment. Under PMMY collateral free loans upto Rs. 10 lakh, are extended to micro/small business enterprises and to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activities.
Other initiatives include:
Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),
Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY),
