Page 158 - economic review

Industry and Labour130

a self-financing health insurance scheme and the contributions are raised from covered employees
and their employers as a fixed percentage of wages. The payments are to be made on a monthly
basis. An employee covered under the scheme has to contribute 1.75% of the wages whereas; an
employer contributes 4.75% of the wages payable to an employee. The total contribution in respect
of an employee thus works out to 6.5% of the wages payable. However, employees earning less
than ` 50/- a day are exempted from payment of contribution. Benefits of the ESI Scheme ensures
that insured persons and dependants are entitled to free, full and comprehensive medical care under
the scheme. This medical care is provided through a network of ESI dispensaries, panel clinics,
diagnostic centres and ESI hospitals. Super speciality facilities are also offered through empanelled
advanced medical institutions. Currently, six types of benefits are provided. These are medical,
sickness, maternity, disablement, dependants’ and funeral expenses.

Migrant Labour

3.169 The recent trend in the employment sector in the state shows a large inflow of migrant workers
from other states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc.
besides the neighbouring states. Working conditions of the inter-state migrant workmen are dealt
with the Inter State Migrant Workmen Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service Act,1979.
As per the provision of the Act, the contractor has to obtain a recruitment license from the state from
where the workers are recruited (Original State) and an employment license from the state where
they are employed (Recipient State).Accordingly the contractor and the principal employer become
liable for ensuring the provisions envisaged in the enactment as an immediate employer and the
principal employer respectively. But usually these workers cannot be brought under the purview
of the enactment due to lack of statutory ingredients required to attract the ambit of the enactment
such as an intermediary third party/contractor between the Principal employer and the workmen.
These workers are compelled to live in groups and unhygienic circumstances near to their working
place without proper health facilities. The distribution of migrant workers from different states is given
below.

Fig 3.15
Origin of Inter State Migrant Workers in Kerala

Source: NSSO 68th Round

3.170 Out of the total ISM workers, West Bengal is the leading state by contributing 47 % of ISM
workers which is followed by Orissa by 16% and Assam 9%.The distribution of district wise migrated
workers in the state shows that Ernakulam has the highest proportion of 17% followed by Kannur
13% and Wayanad 12%. Following figure shows the district wise details of ISM workers in the state.
Details are given in the Appendix 3.57

Kerala State Planning Board