This Report is focused on the informal or the unorganised sector of the economy, which accounts for an overwhelming proportion of the poor and vulnerable population in an otherwise shining India. It concentrates on a detailed analysis of the conditions of work and lives of the unorganised workers consisting of about 92 per cent of the total workforce of about 457 million.One of the major highlights of this Report is the quantification of unorganised or informal workers, defined as those who do not have employment security, work security and social security. These workers are engaged not only in the unorganised sector but in the organised sector as well. The picture that the Report presents is based on the latest available set of data from the Sixty-first Round of the National Sample Survey in 2004-05. This has been supplemented with data from other sources.In the Report, the Commission notes that the situation calls for immediate steps to ensure minimum conditions of work for the unorganised workers as well as measures for their livelihood promotion. The Commission has, therefore, proposed two comprehensive Bills for unorganised agricultural and non-agricultural workers.
It has, further, proposed a number of measures to improve the livelihood of unorganised sector workers.On the basis of its detailed assessment, the Commission has recommended a 13 Point Action Programme. The Commission believes that these measures are within the administrative and fiscal capacity of the Government, and if implemented within a short period of time, will have a significant impact on the lives of the working poor.