Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon launch the much-awaited UWIN (Unorganised Workers Identification Number) card for the benefit of those working in unorganised sector, the union labour and employment minister, Bandaru Dattatreya said today.

Of the total workforce in India, 93 per cent, or nearly 40 crore, are in the unorganised sector. The new card will benefit the workers in the construction sector, rickshaw-pullers, autorickshaw drivers, Asha, Anganawadi and midday meal sector, Dattatreya told reporters tonight.

Stating that the card will have the benefit of portability, as a worker in Coimbatore can go and work in Hyderabad or Thiruvananthapuram and avail the EPF and ESI benefit, he said that all the four social security schemes of the Centre such as Jan Dhan, Jan Suraksha, Jeevan Bhima, and Atal Pension Yojanas will be covered under this card.

The labour ministry will have discussions with Woman and Child Welfare department, regarding workers in the Anganawadi and Midday meal fields, he said. To create transparency and accountability, the ministry has come out with Universal Account Number for the workers, linked to Aadhar card and bank account, he said, adding that the workers will get text alerts about his remuneration, PF and Pension.

On the question of amending labour law, the minister, who was on his way to Hyderabad from Palakkad in nearby Kerala, said that it was an ongoing process, and added that he had already held 12 tripartite meetings in this regard.

When asked about opposition from major trade unions and political parties, Dattatreya said that a consensus will be arrived at, since the new labour law was ‘totally pro-poor.’