Parliament Question: Workers' welfare in Bihar

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3140 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026 WORKERS' WELFARE IN BIHAR 3140. SHRI AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH: Will the Minister of Labour and Employment be pleased to state: (a) the number of workers registered on e-Shram portal in Bihar and the details of social security benefits extended to them; (b) whether implementation of Labour Codes has improved worker protections in urban centres such as Patna; (c) the training initiatives undertaken under Mission Karmayogi for labour administration in Bihar; and (d) the steps taken to strengthen grievance redressal and ensure timely delivery of worker welfare benefits? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (d): 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, migrant workers etc. The e-Shram portal registers the unorganised workers including gig and platform workers and provides them a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self- declaration basis. As on 12th March 2026, over 31.56 crore unorganised workers have already been registered on eShram portal including over 3.23 crore unorganised workers in Bihar. Details of unorganised workers registered on eShram portal enrolled under various social welfare schemes in Bihar is at annexure-I. 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– Contd..2/-:: 2 :: “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. This enables unorganised workers registered on eShram to access social security schemes and see benefits availed by them so far, through 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. Apart from the above, eShram has linkages with National Career Service (NCS) for Job Opportunities, Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) for Skill Development, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) for Pension and convergence portal of MoHUA. The Central Government has implemented the four Labour Codes; viz; the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 with effect from 21.11.2025. The four Labour Codes strengthen the protection available to organised and unorganized workers in the country including of the state of Bihar. The Labour Codes are aligned to provide wage protection, social security coverage including the following: - i. A statutory right to all workers for minimum wages and timely payment of wages. ii. Universalization of social security by extending coverage to organized and unorganized workers including gig and platform under the Code on Social Security, 2020. Contd..3/-:: 3 :: iii. Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) coverage for establishments having more than 10 employees on mandatory basis and for establishments having less than 10 employees on voluntary basis. iv. Provision of benefits to unorganised workers and to their family members through ESIC or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). v. Setting up of Social Security Fund for formulating schemes for unorganised workers, gig and platform workers. vi. Safe and healthy working conditions for all workers. vii. Provision for annual health check-up and issuance of appointment letters to all employees. viii. Provision of Workers’ Re-Skilling Fund for retrenched workers. ix. Women are allowed to work in all types of work and establishments and at night subject to their consent and safety. x. Definition of Inter-State Migrant Worker has been expanded that includes migrant workers employed by contractor, and also self- migrated. They are entitled for (a) annual lump sum travel allowance, (b) portability of benefits. The iGOT Karmayogi platform, established under the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building – Mission Karmayogi, focuses on digital learning and capacity building of employees of the Central Government as well as those of State Governments and Union Territories, including officers/officials of labour administration in the Government of Bihar. As on date, more than 1.5 crore users have been onboarded on the iGOT Karmayogi Platform, including approximately 13.9 lakh employees from the State of Bihar. The platform currently hosts over 4,500 courses covering domain, functional and behavioural competencies. Among these, 24 courses are related to labour administration. A list of the 24 labour administration related courses on the iGOT Karmayogi Platform is at annexure-II. Contd..4/-:: 4 :: To enhance registrations under the eShram initiative and ensure wider coverage of unorganised workers including the youth and women, the Government has adopted a comprehensive strategy. In addition to enabling self-registration through the web portal and mobile application, assisted registration modes have been introduced via Common Service Centres (CSCs), State Sewa Kendras (SSKs), and the UMANG platform to facilitate easy access for workers. The Ministry of Labour and Employment is conducting targeted awareness campaigns comprising registration drives, community outreach programs and locally tailored communication efforts. To further strengthen outreach, the Ministry leverages social media channels to disseminate videos, tutorials, and other informative content, making the initiative more accessible and engaging. Any unorganised worker can also reach out to their respective State / District Labour Department for information about registration on eShram and its associated benefits. Further, Ministry has also setup National helpdesk / helpline number 14434 for assistance of unorganised workers. ** *****Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) to (d) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3140 for 19.03.2026 regarding “Workers' welfare in Bihar” raised by Shri Akhilesh Prasad Singh. Details of unorganised workers registered on eShram portal enrolled under various social welfare schemes in Bihar as on 12.03.2026. S.No. Schemes Enrollments 1 One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) 2,70,56,113 Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi 86,815 2 (PMSVANidhi) Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika 51,06,667 3 Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) 4 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) 19,31,860 Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme 20,885 5 (IGNDPS) Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme 83,579 6 (IGNWPS) 7 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 45,903 8 Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) 550 9 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) 21,33,484 10 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) 89,53,922 Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya 2,43,52,332 11 Yojana (AB-PMJAY) 12 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) 38,33,735 13 Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojana (PMMVY) 4,91,155Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) to (d) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3140 for 19.03.2026 regarding “Workers' welfare in Bihar” raised by Shri Akhilesh Prasad Singh. List of the 24course related to labour administration courses on the iGOT Karmayogi Platform. S.No. Content ID Content Name Content Provider Name 1 do_1142827522396815361162 Code on Social Security 2020 V V Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) - Noida 2 do_1142735201942077441205 Code on Wages V V Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) - Noida 3 do_113725721420865536138 Contract Labour Act and other Labour laws Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL) 4 do_1142529438610309121273 EPF Act and Schemes Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) 5 do_11439237926304153611183 Electrical Safety and Protection Yantra Institute of Technology and Management Hazard Assessment and Role of Personal 6 do_1143831411543408641360 Protective Equipment Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning Khamaria (Jabalpur) 7 do_1140060311696424961224 Hazards associated with fall of material (Hindi) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited India's New Labour Codes: Key Changes and 8 do_1144928798704844801774 Impact on Employers National Academy of Defence Production (NADP) Nagpur 9 do_1144718595531980801507 Introduction to Industrial Relations Code 2020 V V Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) - Noida 10 do_1143527543714529281141 Labour Laws in a Nutshell XLRI- Xavier School of Management 11 do_1136082239998607361289 NTPC Safety Policy - Hindi Ministry of Power Occupational Safety, Health and Working 12 do_114257899943346176168 Conditions Code 2020 V V Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) - Noida 13 do_1140060176715448321235 Prevention and control methods of ergonomics National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited Prevention and control methods of ergonomics 14 do_1140060221225861121261 (Hindi) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited 15 do_113961267229868032120 Safe procedure for Works to be done at heights. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited Safe procedure for Works to be done at heights. 16 do_113961271106207744145 (Hindi) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited 17 do_11438884511023923211079 Safety in Industrial Workplaces Yantra Institute of Technology and Management 18 do_113828976050888704151 Understanding Of Labour Law National Institute of Communication Finance 19 do_1144751518691082241560 Understanding Labour Codes in India V V Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) - Noida 20 do_113961285560459264133 Working in Confined Spaces National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited 21 do_113961288077484032122 Working in Confined Spaces (Hindi) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration and Management 22 do_1142650727504117761106 ठेका श्रम अधिधियम 1970 (RCVPNAAM) Bhopal Trafficking Slavery and Forced Labour under 23 do_1143316197371330561587 Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita Bureau of Police Research and Development BPRD Roles and Functions of Quasi-Judicial Authorities 24 do_1144009812708392961954 under Labour Laws V V Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) - Noida *****