Delink Worker

Context: Delinking the social security benefits tied to a worker’s job and linking them to the individual is necessary for a positive overhaul of the work environment.

Delinking examples:

• National Pension System (NPS): made retirement saving portable across jobs and geography. 
• One-nation, one-ration card scheme: it unbundles the ration card and makes individual entitlements portable across India.

Advantages of delinking:

• Supports mobility: in both job and geography. 

• Lessons from abroad: Missing unemployment benefits combined with job linked health insurance has pushed Covid patients to turn up for work and infect others in the US.

Way Forward:

• Realigning incentives: in healthcare through Ayushman Bharat where payment should be given for pro-active healthcare and not just for procedures and medications. 

• This will also minimize costs and improve competition.

• Financing these benefits: A certain portion of the earnings of all workers, including gig workers, can be diverted to pay for healthcare and social security.