Category:

Pension & Social Security

Labour ministry mulls extending ABRY deadline till March 2022 to boost fresh hiring

Under the scheme, the central government pays both 12 per cent employees’ contribution and 12 per cent employers’ contribution i.e. 24 per cent of wages towards social security schemes run by the retirement fund body Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

An employee drawing a monthly wage of less than Rs 15,000 who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) before 1st October, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to 1st October 2020 is eligible for the benefit.

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Sharpening income inequalities telling story of ‘uneven’ recovery: Subbarao

A study by the Azim Premji University has found that the one year of Covid-19 pandemic has pushed 230 million people into poverty with a 15 per cent increase in poverty rate in rural India and a 20 per cent surge in urban India,” Former RBI Governor D Subbarao said citing the findings of a study.

“Add to that CMIE data showing that the unemployment rate has gone up as high as 12 per cent in May, 10 million jobs have been lost just on account of the second wave and 97 per cent of the households in the country have experienced declines in incomes,” he added.

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Child labour records 1st rise in 20 years, millions more at risk due to Covid: Report

”The number of children in child labour has risen to 160 million (16 crore) worldwide — an increase of 8.4 million (84 lakh) children in the last four years — with millions more at risk due to the impacts of COVID-19,” the report said.
UNICEF India Representative Dr Yasmin Ali Haque said the coronavirus pandemic has clearly emerged as a child rights crisis, aggravating the risk of child labour as many more families are likely to have fallen into extreme poverty. ”Children in poor and disadvantaged households in India are now at a greater risk of negative coping mechanisms such as dropping out of school and being forced into labour, marriage, and even falling victim to trafficking,” she said.

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State-owned banks getting ready for privatisation may come out with VRS

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while unveiling Budget 2021-22 on February 1 had announced that the government proposed to take up the privatization of two public sector banks (PSBs) and one general insurance company.An attractive VRS will make them lean and fit for takeover by the private sector entities that are keen to enter the banking space, the sources said.

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80 % Indians feel digital tech effectively used to respond to COVID-19: EY survey

They want the government to prioritize making certain services available online including pension planning, resources to help people set up businesses, and providing more ways for citizens to have an online say in government decision making.

Looking ahead to the future,81 percent of the Indian respondents think that technology will change the way they bank and shop,80 percent think that it will change the way they work/study, and79 per cent think that it will change the way they entertain themselves

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9.27 lakh severely acute malnourished children identified till November last year: RTI

“Malnutrition will be huge comorbidity… if what they are saying that children will be affected more in the next wave holds, then malnutrition will be huge comorbidity and how are they going to address that?” Dola Mohapatra, the executive director, Rise Against Hunger India, agreed that COVID-19 could further exacerbate the situation with shrinking food diversity and low intake combined with episodes of missing food at times.

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Virus disaster leaves deep scars on India’s economy

Surging unemployment, coupled with state lockdowns, a large increase in hospitalizations and fatalities amid the second wave and fears of a third wave, are prompting many people to cut spending.
Meanwhile, sales of cars and motorcycles fell 30% in April over March and are expected to slump by over 60% in May as automakers including Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp halted production for several days amid rising infections. Dealerships remain closed.

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Covid-19: Govt announces additional benefits under EPFO, ESIC schemes

“The Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced additional benefits for workers through ESIC and EPFO schemes to address the fear and anxiety of workers about wellbeing of their family members due to increase in incidences of death due to COVID-19 pandemic,” a ministry statement said.

Enhanced social security is sought to be provided to the workers without any additional cost to the employer, it added.

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