Chapter-12 : Labour, Skill Development & Employment
Short Notes or Revision Notes
GIST of India Year Book 2024
Ministry of Labour and Employment: Protecting Workers’ Rights
Focus: Safeguarding worker interests, promoting healthy work environment, social security, and skill development.
Key Initiatives:
- Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (2019):Pension scheme for unorganized workers.
- National Career Service (NCS) (2015):Digital platform for job seekers and employers (career counseling, skill development).
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY):Incentivizes job creation with social security benefits (post-COVID recovery).
- Labour Inspection Scheme:Computerized system for efficient and transparent inspections.
- Shram Suvidha Portal:Unified portal for enforcing labor laws and offering services.
- Single Unified Annual Return:Streamlined compliance through single online return for 8 labor acts.
- Labour Codes:Four codes simplify and harmonize labor laws (minimum wages, social security, ease of doing business).
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC): Provides medical care and social security to insured workers.
ESIC’s Digital Initiatives:
- e-Biz Platform:Integrates services for employer registration.
- e-Pehchan:Simplifies identification for online benefit disbursement (Aadhaar seeding).
- ABHA Number Creation:Unified health identifier for beneficiaries (digital health record access).
- IPS Mobile App for Healthcare:Online appointment booking, home sample collection (in some areas).
- GIS-based Mapping for ESIC Services:Shows location of ESIC hospitals and dispensaries.
- Online Benefit Claims:Maternity, sickness, and disability claims made online.
Continued Initiatives by the Ministry of Labour and Employment
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): Manages provident funds, pensions, and insurance schemes.
- EPFO’s Online Registration:Simplifies establishment and member registration, contribution remittance.
- Pension Reforms and Digital Life Certificate:Introduced minimum pension and uses facial recognition for life certificate submission.
- UAN Portability and Bonus Act Amendment:Launched UAN for automatic PF portability and revised bonus eligibility/calculation under the Payment of Bonus Act.
Child Labour Eradication: Focuses on complete prohibition and education access through legislation, projects, and development programs.
Occupational Safety and Health Oversight:
- DGMS and DGFASLI enforce safety provisions for mining, factories, and docks under respective acts.
- Shram Awards, VRPs, and NSAs recognize outstanding safety performance and suggestions.
Workers’ Education and Development:
- Dattopant Thengadi Board educates workers across sectors, promoting awareness and empowerment.
- V. Giri National Labour Institute offers training programs for labor administrators, trade union leaders, and others.
Labour Bureau’s Statistical Role: Collects and disseminates labor, employment, and price statistics.
India’s Skilling Endeavors (MSDE): Aims to make India the Skill Capital in collaboration with various stakeholders.
- National Skill Development Mission (2015):Focuses on cross-sectoral collaboration for skill development with a three-tier structure.
- National Policy for Skill Development (2015):Prioritizes entrepreneurship, skill quality, and equity, targeting marginalized groups and women.
- PM-YUVA Udayamita Vikas Abhiyaan (2017):Promotes entrepreneurship development through education and training in higher learning institutes.
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):Offers skill development incentives through short-term programs with monetary rewards (extended to PMKVY 3.0 for increased district involvement).