Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on 31st July 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
This report details the address by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya at the 4th Global Industrial Relations Summit on July 31, 2026, regarding India's social security expansion. The document highlights that 101 crore citizens, or 68% of the population, are now covered under the social security net, a milestone recognized by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Key takeaways include significant improvements in employment elasticity and upcoming digital reforms for the ESIC and EPFO systems.
Key Points / Main Content
Social Security and Economic Growth
Over one billion Indian citizens are now covered by at least one social protection criterion, as highlighted during the BRICS Labour Ministers' Meeting.
Employment growth per percentage point of GDP has increased to 1.11%, compared to 0.008% recorded twelve years ago.
Economic development is being driven by a "virtuous cycle" of stable taxation, rising savings, increased manufacturing, and higher purchasing power.
Institutional Reforms
ESIC Reform: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will no longer be the sole provider of care; well-run private hospitals may now be designated as ESIC facilities.
EPFO Digitalization: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is moving toward fully digital claims and the automatic transfer of accounts via a single Universal Account Number (UAN).
Payment Innovations: The government is considering the implementation of UPI-based withdrawals for EPFO members.
Industrial Relations and Empowerment
Harmonious industrial relations require continuous coordination between governments, industry, employers, workers, and trade unions.
A balanced development model is essential to advance worker welfare while ensuring the "ease of doing business" for employers.
There is a growing emphasis on women-led initiatives, self-help groups, and cooperative models to expand livelihood opportunities and empower women.
Impact Analysis
Citizens and WorkersImpact
Over 101 crore individuals now benefit from a social security net. Workers will experience easier access to their funds and healthcare through digital EPFO transfers and expanded ESIC hospital options.
Action Required
Workers should ensure they are registered under a single UAN for automatic account transfers and utilize digital platforms for future claims and withdrawals.
Employers and IndustryImpact
The government's focus on a balanced development model aims to improve the ease of doing business while fostering a more stable and cooperative workforce.
Action Required
Employers must maintain continuous coordination with trade unions and government bodies to ensure economic growth aligns with worker welfare.
Private Healthcare ProvidersImpact
Well-run private hospitals are now eligible to be designated as ESIC facilities, expanding their service reach to a larger insured population.
Action Required
Interested private hospitals must ensure they meet the quality standards required to be designated as official care providers under the ESIC scheme.
EPFO and ESIC AgenciesImpact
These organizations are undergoing a transition toward total digitalization and decentralized service delivery through private partnerships.
Action Required
These agencies must implement the necessary technical infrastructure for UPI-based withdrawals and automated account transfers.
Key Entities Referenced
International Labour Organization (ILO): Global labor authority that recognized India's achievement of providing social protection coverage to over one billion citizens.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya: Union Minister for Labour & Employment who announced key reforms in social security and highlighted India's rising employment elasticity.
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC): Social security body undergoing reforms to allow well-run private hospitals to be designated as its care facilities.
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): Retirement fund agency implementing fully digital claims, automatic account transfers via a single UAN, and UPI-based withdrawals.
4th Global Industrial Relations Summit: The New Delhi summit where policy updates regarding India's industrial relations and social security milestones were presented.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
101 crore citizens now covered under India's
social security net as recognised by ILO, says Dr.
Mansukh Mandaviya
Essential to have a balanced development model that
advances workers’ welfare as well as employers’ interests,
says Union Minister, Dr. Mandaviya
Employment generated per percentage point of GDP growth
has risen from 0.008 per cent twelve years ago to 1.11 per
cent today: Dr Mandaviya
Well-run private hospitals could be designated as ESIC
facilities, states Union Minister
ILO Representative congratulates India on giving social
protection to over one billion citizens
प्रव तथ: 31 JUL 2026 1:47PM by PIB Delhi
India's social protection systems now cover about 101 crore people, or over 68 per cent of the population,
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, said at
the 4th Global Industrial Relations Summit in New Delhi today. This figure, the Minister said, had been
highlighted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) the BRICS Labour Ministers' Meeting in
Hyderabad last week, testifying to a global recognition of India’s social security coverage.The Summit is organised by the All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE) in association with
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and ILO.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said that harmonious industrial relations require continuous coordination among
governments, industry, employers, workers and trade unions to ensure that economic development and
employment generation progress together. Stressing that industrialisation is essential for national
development as it drives employment creation, the Union Minister also underlined the growing
importance of self-help groups and cooperative models, particularly women-led initiatives, in expanding
livelihood opportunities, strengthening the economy and promoting women's empowerment. “It is
essential to have a balanced development model that advances the welfare and social security of workers,
as well as ensure ease of doing business for employers,” he stated.Dr. Mandaviya underlined that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sustained economic
growth, supported by stable taxation, rising savings, higher purchasing power and increased
manufacturing, has created a virtuous cycle of development and employment. Citing improving
employment elasticity, he said that every one per cent increase in GDP is generating 1.11 per cent
employment growth, as compared to 0.008 per cent growth in employment seen twelve years ago.
Dr. Mandaviya also indicated that the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) need not remain the
sole provider of care under its own scheme. Well-run private hospitals could be designated as ESIC
facilities, he said, describing upcoming reform of the corporation. He also pointed to the Employees’
Provident Fund Organisation’s (EPFO) move to fully digital claims and automatic transfer of accounts on
a single UAN, with UPI-based withdrawal under consideration.
Ms Michiko Miyamoto, Director ILO DWT for South Asia and Country Office for India, congratulated
India on the expansion of its social security coverage, noting that according to ILO estimate, the country
had crossed one billion people covered by at least one social protection criterion. This achievement, she
underscored, would play a key role in propelling India’s economic growth in the days ahead.
A souvenir, marking the two-day Summit, was also released by the Union Minister Dr. Mandaviya, along
with other dignitaries.
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Rini Choudhury
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