Parliament Question: Status of Employment and Labour Welfare Schemes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5786 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30TH MARCH, 2026 STATUS OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR WELFARE SCHEMES 5786. PROF. SOUGATA RAY: Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of the rising problem of unemployment and underemployment among youth in the country and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of steps taken by the Government to improve working conditions and social security for workers in the organised and unorganised sectors; (c) whether the Government has conducted any assessment on the impact of the four new Labour Codes on workers’ rights and employment conditions and if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of measures taken by the Government to ensure timely payment of wages and to prevent exploitation of contract workers; (e) whether the Government has any proposal to extend social security benefits to gig workers and platform-based workers and if so, the details thereof; (f) the details of labour welfare schemes being implemented by the Government for migrant workers and their present status; and (g) whether the Government has taken any steps to address rising workplace accidents and to ensure occupational safety in industries and the construction sector and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (g): The official data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which is conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.As per the latest Annual PLFS reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for youth of age 15-29 years has decreased from 17.8% in 2017-18 to 10.2% in 2023-24. Also, the estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR) indicating employment on usual status for youth of age 15-29 years has increased from 31.4% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24. As a part of legislative reforms, the existing 29 Acts in the central sphere have been subsumed in the four Codes viz, the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020. The Codes have been enforced with effect from 21 November, 2025. These Codes aim to catalyze creation of employment opportunities while ensuring safety, health and social security of every worker (including gig, platform and migrant workers) by promoting ease of doing business through simplification, rationalization and reduction in compliance burden; raising thresholds for factory license, contract labour license, prior permission for retrenchment, lay-off and closure and certification of standing orders. Code on Wages, 2019 have provisions for fixation and payment of minimum wages, equal remuneration and timely payment of wages to all employees etc. The Code on Occupational Safety, Health and working conditions code, 2020 provides for universal application of occupational safety, health and welfare standards in all establishments having 10 or more workers and even for establishment with one employee, carrying out hazardous or life-threatening occupations. The Code on Social Security, 2020 provides for framing of suitable social security measures to provide benefits relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc. The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched eShram portal (eshram.gov.in) on 26th August, 2021 for creation of a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) including platform workers. The eShram portal registers the unorganised workers (including gig, platform and migrant workers) and provides them a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-declaration basis.In keeping with the vision of the Budget Announcement 2024-25 on developing eShram as a One-Stop-Solution for unorganized workers to have access to various social security schemes, Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the eShram–“One-Stop-Solution” on 21st October 2024. eShram– “One-Stop-Solution” entails integration of different social security/ welfare schemes at single portal i.e. eShram. So far, fourteen (14) schemes of different Central Ministries/ Departments have already been integrated/ mapped with the eShram to extend benefits and access to social security, insurance or skill development programmes to eShram cardholders including Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojana (PMMVY), etc *****