A Review of Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008

The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 was meant to be a game-changer for India’s vast informal workforce, which makes up about 94% of the country’s total workers. However, in reality, the Act has largely failed to deliver on its promises. The government has not expanded social security schemes under the Act in the last nine years, leaving millions of workers without proper protection. The National Social Security Board, set up to oversee its implementation, has barely functioned-its last recorded meeting was in 2013-14. There is no proper record of how many workers have been registered, and financial support for key schemes has remained stagnant. The Act, which was supposed to evolve with the needs of workers, has instead become an outdated policy document with little real impact.

When it was passed in 2008, the Act aimed to bring basic social security to unorganised workers-people working in domestic jobs, construction, agriculture, and small businesses, often without contracts or benefits. It introduced schemes for pensions, health insurance, maternity benefits, employment injury compensation, and skill development. National and State Social Security Boards were supposed to monitor and improve these benefits over time.

While some welfare schemes, like the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme and the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, exist under the Act, they haven’t been improved or expanded. Funding has been inadequate, and the number of people benefiting remains low compared to the actual workforce size. Without updates or strong enforcement, millions of workers are left vulnerable, still struggling without safety nets.

This Act had the potential to change lives, but it has been neglected. If the government truly wants to support its informal workers, it needs to increase funding, expand benefits, and take worker registration seriously. Without these steps, the Act will remain just another unfulfilled promise.

Keywords: Unorganised Workers, Social Security, Legislation, National Social Security Board, Schemes, Pension, Insurance, Welfare, Implementation, Beneficiaries