With reference to casual workers in India, consider the following stat

With reference to casual workers in India, consider the following statements :

  • 1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund coverage.
  • 2. All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment.
  • 3. The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
The correct option is B. Statements 2 and 3 are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect as it uses the term ‘All’.
– While laws like the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 apply to establishments above a certain size (currently 20 employees), coverage is mandatory for employees within such establishments who meet certain criteria, including casual workers. However, not *all* casual workers in India are covered, particularly those in the informal sector or in very small establishments where the Act doesn’t apply or is not enforced. Statement 1 is incorrect due to the word ‘All’.
– Labour laws such as the Factories Act, 1948 and State-specific Shops and Establishments Acts regulate working hours and mandate overtime payment for work beyond prescribed hours for covered establishments and workers. Casual workers in such covered establishments are entitled to these provisions. While enforcement might be an issue, the entitlement exists for many casual workers under relevant laws. Statement 2 is generally correct in principle, although the term ‘All’ might again be too strong depending on the specific context of “casual workers”. However, compared to statement 1, it’s more broadly applicable legally.
– The Payment of Wages Act, 1936 was amended in 2017 to allow the appropriate government (Central or State) to mandate payment of wages through bank accounts or cheques for specified industries or establishments. Statement 3 is correct.
Given the options, and the definitive correctness of statement 3 and the typical application of working hours/overtime laws to many casual workers in formal/semi-formal settings (statement 2), while EPF coverage (statement 1) has more specific applicability thresholds, (2 and 3) is the most plausible correct answer set.