Panel seeks amendment to make social security a fundamental right

Our Political Bureau

New Delhi, Oct 15: The study group on social security, constituted by the National Commission on Labour, has recommended that the Constitution should be amended to make social security a fundamental right.

The report was released here on Monday at a news conference by the Commission chairperson Ravindra Verma, and head of the group RKA Subrahmanya. Another recommendation is the introduction of an employment guarantee scheme on the pattern of the Maharashtra scheme, failing which, it said, a scheme of unemployment relief should be introduced at the national level.

It also suggested the restructuring of the Employees’ Provident Fund and Employees’ State Insurance schemes. It has recommended that the EPF Act should be made applicable to all classes of establishments. It has also called for removal of wage ceiling and reduction in employed persons criteria for application of the Act.

The group has recommended that the pension scheme may be referred to independent agencies for valuation of assets and liabilities while the Payment of Gratuity Act be integrated with the Employees’ Deposit-linked Insurance Scheme so as to provide an insurance cover to the liability for payment of gratuity.