Sushri Shobha Karandlaje Inaugurates Regional Meeting on Labour Reforms and Employment

The discussions revolved around several key areas including labour reforms, the e-Shram Portal, the welfare of Building & Other Construction Workers (BoCW), and strategies for employment generation.

In a significant step towards advancing labour reforms and employment initiatives, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, inaugurated a regional meeting today in Lucknow. This meeting, attended by representatives from five States and Union Territories (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi), marks the fifth of six regional discussions organized by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, underscoring the spirit of cooperative federalism.

The discussions revolved around several key areas including labour reforms, the e-Shram Portal, the welfare of Building & Other Construction Workers (BoCW), and strategies for employment generation. These discussions reflect the Government of India’s commitment to inclusive development, aimed at improving the welfare of all workers, particularly those in the unorganised sector.

In her opening remarks, Sushri Karandlaje stressed the pivotal role that States must play in the successful implementation of labour reforms. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Centre and the States in identifying gaps, addressing challenges, and driving forward a unified vision for labour and employment. The Minister encouraged all the participating States to synchronize their efforts with the overall vision of the Central Government, with a special focus on ensuring the welfare of unorganised workers through platforms like the e-Shram portal.

Focus on 'Whole of Government' Approach

Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, highlighted the necessity of a 'whole of government' approach to labour reform. She urged States and Union Territories to harmonize their state-specific labour laws with the Central Labour Codes, emphasizing the creation of synergies in employment generation, youth employability, and ease of doing business. Ms. Dawra also announced plans to develop an index to rank States/UTs based on employment generation and data collection, fostering healthy competition and collaboration.

e-Shram Portal: A One-Stop Solution

The Ministry's goal of transforming the e-Shram portal into a comprehensive, one-stop solution was a key focus of the meeting. Since its inception, the portal has integrated with over ten government schemes including the One Nation One Ration Card, PM Awas Yojana (Urban and Gramin), MGNREGA, and the National Career Service Portal. This integration aims to improve the delivery of services to unorganised workers, ensuring they benefit from central welfare schemes.

Expectations from States/UTs

The meeting highlighted several expectations from States and UTs, including:

Regular submission of employment returns and job fair details to the Directorate General of Employment via the National Career Service portal.

Two-way integration with the e-Shram portal in a time-bound manner.

A focused approach to quality job creation and employment data collection.

A consultative approach in drafting State-level labour reforms.

Expanding BoCW Welfare and Employment Generation

The Building & Other Construction Workers (BoCW) sector was a key topic of discussion, with a focus on expanding welfare coverage, conducting audits, and integrating worker data with the e-Shram portal. States were encouraged to improve cess collection and compliance with model welfare schemes.

Additionally, discussions around employment generation included the modernization of Employment Exchanges, building partnerships with educational institutions, and fostering industry collaborations. States were urged to improve the efficiency of ESIC services, optimize infrastructure, and streamline fund flows.

Interactive Discussions and Sharing of Best Practices

Extensive interactive sessions between officers from the States/UTs and the Government of India enabled the sharing of best practices and solutions to common challenges. State representatives raised their concerns, had queries addressed, and discussed potential actions to enhance labour reforms and employment generation.

In closing, Mr. Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, thanked the officials for their active participation and reaffirmed the Government of India's support for the States and Union Territories in implementing these critical labour initiatives.

This regional meeting continues the Ministry's series of engagements aimed at promoting cooperative federalism and ensuring the welfare of workers across the country.