# Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)

The Ministry of Labour & Employment is one of the oldest and most important Ministries of the Government of India. This is an India's federal ministry which is responsible for enforcement of labour laws in general and legislations related to a worker's social security. The Ministry aims to create a healthy work environment for higher production and productivity and to develop and coordinate vocational skill training and employment. However, Skill Development responsibilities, such as Industrial Training and Apprenticeship responsibilities were transferred to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship from 9 November 2014. The Ministry launched the National Career Service portal on 20 July 2015 to help bridge the gap between job providers and job seekers. Jagjivan Ram was the first Labour Minister of independent India, serving in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet from 1947 to 1952.

## Role and Working
### Functions

The thrust areas of the ministry are:
* Labour Policy and legislation
* Safety, health and welfare of labour
* Social security of labour
* Policy relating to special target groups such as women and child labour
* Industrial relations and enforcement of labour laws in the Central sphere
* Adjudication of industrial disputes through Central Government Industrial Tribunals cum Labour Courts and National Industrial Tribunals
* Workers' Education
* Labour and Employment Statistics
The results of recession on employment in the eight selected sectors textiles including apparels, leather, metals, automobiles, gems & jewellery, transport, IT/BPO and handloom / powerloom were monitored starting from Oct–Dec 2008. The overall employment in the eight selected sectors covered in the quarterly surveys has increased by 10.66 lakh (0.16%). In IT/BPO sector the increase in the employment is maximum (6.9 lakh) during the year 2009–10.
* Emigration of Labour for employment abroad
* Employment services and vocational training
* Administration of Central Labour & Employment Services
* International co-operation in labour and employment matters
* The ministry of Labor and Employment Govt. Of India has Introduce E-Shram Card For UN- organize Sector Employees Social And Economical improvement During The COVID-19 Pandemic Session on 1 August 2021.

## Organisation
### Attached offices

* Directorate General of Employment
* Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC)(Central)
* Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institute (DGFASLI)
* Labour Bureau

### Subordinate offices

* Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS)
* Labour Welfare Organisations (LWOs)

### Statutory/Autonomous Organisations

* Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
* Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
* V. V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI)
* Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development (DTNBWED)

### Autonomous bodies

* Central Government Industrial Tribunals and Labour Courts
* Central Labour Institute

## Cabinet Ministers

* Note:
** MoS (I/C) – Minister of State (Independent Charge)
** MoS – Minister of State/Minister without cabinet rank
| Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency | From | To | Period | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| Minister of Labour (1947–1957) ||||||||||
| | | Jagjivan Ram (1908–1986) MCA for Bihar | 15 August 1947 | 13 May 1952 | 4 years, 272 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru I | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| | | V. V. Giri (1894–1980) MP for Pathapatnam | 13 May 1952 | 7 September 1954 | 2 years, 117 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| | | Khandubhai Kasanji Desai (1898–1975) MP for Mehsana West | 10 September 1954 | 16 April 1957 | 2 years, 218 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru II | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Minister of Labour and Employment (1957–1966) ||||||||||
| | | Gulzarilal Nanda (1898–1998) MP for Sabarkantha | 17 April 1957 | 10 April 1962 | 4 years, 358 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru III | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| | | Jaisukhlal Hathi (1909–1982) Rajya Sabha MP for Gujarat (MoS) | 16 April 1962 | 15 November 1962 | 213 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| | | Gulzarilal Nanda (1898–1998) MP for Sabarkantha | 1 September 1963 | 24 January 1964 | 145 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| | | Damodaram Sanjivayya (1921–1972) Rajya Sabha MP for Andhra Pradesh | 24 January 1964 | 27 May 1964 | 2 years, 0 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| | | Damodaram Sanjivayya (1921–1972) Rajya Sabha MP for Andhra Pradesh | 27 May 1964 | 9 June 1964 | 2 years, 0 days | Indian National Congress | Nanda I | | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| | | Damodaram Sanjivayya (1921–1972) Rajya Sabha MP for Andhra Pradesh | 9 June 1964 | 11 January 1966 | 2 years, 0 days | Indian National Congress | Shastri | | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| | | Damodaram Sanjivayya (1921–1972) Rajya Sabha MP for Andhra Pradesh | 11 January 1966 | 24 January 1966 | 2 years, 0 days | Indian National Congress | Nanda II | | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| Minister of Labour, Employment and Rehabilitation (1966–1970) ||||||||||
| | | Jagjivan Ram (1908–1986) MP for Sasaram | 24 January 1966 | 13 March 1967 | 1 year, 48 days | Indian National Congress | Indira I | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Jaisukhlal Hathi (1909–1982) Rajya Sabha MP for Gujarat | 13 March 1967 | 15 November 1969 | 2 years, 247 days | Indian National Congress | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Jagjivan Ram (1908–1986) MP for Sasaram | 15 November 1969 | 18 February 1970 | 95 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation (1970–1973) ||||||||||
| | | Damodaram Sanjivayya (1921–1972) Rajya Sabha MP for Andhra Pradesh | 18 February 1970 | 18 March 1971 | 1 year, 28 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Raghunath Keshav Khadilkar (1905–1979) MP for Baramati (MoS) | 18 March 1971 | 5 February 1973 | 1 year, 324 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | K. V. Raghunatha Reddy (1924–2002) Rajya Sabha MP for Andhra Pradesh (MoS) | 5 February 1973 | 9 November 1973 | 273 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| Minister of Labour (1973–1982) ||||||||||
| | | K. V. Raghunatha Reddy (1924–2002) Rajya Sabha MP for Andhra Pradesh (MoS) | 9 November 1973 | 24 March 1977 | 3 years, 135 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira III | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Ravindra Varma (1925–2006) MP for Ranchi | 26 March 1977 | 28 July 1979 | 2 years, 124 days | Janata Party | Desai | | Morarji Desai |
| | | Fazlur Rahman MP for Bettiah | 30 July 1979 | 14 January 1980 | 168 days | Janata Party (Secular) | Charan | | Charan Singh |
| | | Janaki Ballabh Patnaik (1927–2015) MP for Cuttack | 16 January 1980 | 7 June 1980 | 143 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) MP for Medak (Prime Minister) | 8 June 1980 | 19 October 1981 | 1 year, 133 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | N. D. Tiwari (1925–2018) MP for Nainital | 19 October 1980 | 15 January 1982 | 1 year, 88 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Bhagwat Jha Azad (1922–2011) MP for Bhagalpur (MoS, I/C) | 15 January 1982 | 2 September 1982 | 230 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation (1982–1984) ||||||||||
| | | Veerendra Patil (1924–1997) MP for Bagalkot | 2 September 1982 | 31 October 1984 | 2 years, 115 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Veerendra Patil (1924–1997) MP for Bagalkot | 4 November 1984 | 31 December 1984 | 2 years, 115 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv I | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Minister of Labour (1984–2004) ||||||||||
| | | T. Anjaiah (1919–1986) MP for Secunderabad (MoS, I/C) | 31 December 1984 | 20 January 1986 | 1 year, 20 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| | | P. A. Sangma (1947–2016) MP for Tura (MoS, I/C) | 20 September 1986 | 6 February 1988 | 1 year, 139 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| | | Makhan Lal Fotedar (1932–2017) Rajya Sabha MP for Uttar Pradesh | 6 February 1988 | 14 February 1988 | 8 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| | | Jagdish Tytler (born 1944) MP for Delhi Sadar (MoS, I/C) | 14 February 1988 | 25 June 1988 | 132 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| | | Bindeshwari Dubey (1921–1993) Rajya Sabha MP for Bihar | 25 June 1988 | 2 December 1989 | 1 year, 160 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| | | Ram Vilas Paswan (1946–2020) MP for Hajipur | 6 December 1989 | 10 November 1990 | 339 days | Janata Dal | Vishwanath | | Vishwanath Pratap Singh |
| | | Chandra Shekhar (1927–2007) MP for Ballia (Prime Minister) | 21 November 1990 | 21 June 1991 | 212 days | Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) | Chandra Shekhar | | Chandra Shekhar |
| | | Vazhappady K. Ramamurthy (1940–2002) MP for Krishnagiri (MoS, I/C) | 21 June 1991 | 30 July 1991 | 39 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| | | P. V. Narasimha Rao (1921–2004) MP for Nandyal (Prime Minister) | 30 July 1991 | 10 July 1992 | 346 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| | | P. A. Sangma (1947–2016) MP for Tura (MoS, I/C until 10 February 1995) | 10 July 1992 | 15 September 1995 | 3 years, 67 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| | | G. Venkatswamy (1929–2014) MP for Peddapalli | 15 September 1995 | 16 May 1996 | 244 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rao | | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) MP for Lucknow (Prime Minister) | 16 May 1996 | 1 June 1996 | 16 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee I | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| | | Balwant Singh Ramoowalia (born 1942) Rajya Sabha MP for Uttar Pradesh | 1 June 1996 | 29 June 1996 | 28 days | Independent | Deve Gowda | | H. D. Deve Gowda |
| | | M. Arunachalam (1944–2004) MP for Tenkasi | 29 June 1996 | 21 April 1997 | 296 days | Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) | Deve Gowda | | H. D. Deve Gowda |
| | | Inder Kumar Gujral (1919–2012) Rajya Sabha MP for Bihar (Prime Minister) | 21 April 1997 | 1 May 1997 | 10 days | Janata Dal | Gujral | | Inder Kumar Gujral |
| | | M. Arunachalam (1944–2004) MP for Tenkasi | 1 May 1997 | 9 June 1997 | 39 days | Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) | Gujral | | Inder Kumar Gujral |
| | | M. P. Veerendra Kumar (1936–2020) MP for Kozhikode (MoS, I/C) | 9 June 1997 | 19 March 1998 | 283 days | Janata Dal | Gujral | | Inder Kumar Gujral |
| | | Satyanarayan Jatiya (born 1946) MP for Ujjain | 19 March 1998 | 13 October 1999 | 1 year, 208 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee II | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) MP for Lucknow (Prime Minister) | 13 October 1999 | 22 November 1999 | 40 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| | | Satyanarayan Jatiya (born 1946) MP for Ujjain | 22 November 1999 | 1 September 2001 | 1 year, 283 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| | | Sharad Yadav (1947–2023) MP for Madhepura | 1 September 2001 | 1 July 2002 | 303 days | Janata Dal (United) | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| | | Sahib Singh Verma (1943–2007) MP for Outer Delhi | 1 July 2002 | 22 May 2004 | 1 year, 326 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Minister of Labour and Employment (2004–present) ||||||||||
| | | Sis Ram Ola (1927–2013) MP for Jhunjhunu | 23 May 2004 | 27 November 2004 | 188 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | K. Chandrashekar Rao (born 1954) MP for Karimnagar | 27 November 2004 | 24 August 2006 | 1 year, 270 days | Telangana Rashtra Samithi | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Manmohan Singh (born 1932) Rajya Sabha MP for Assam (Prime Minister) | 24 August 2006 | 24 October 2006 | 61 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Oscar Fernandes (1941–2021) Rajya Sabha MP for Karnataka (MoS, I/C) | 24 October 2006 | 3 March 2009 | 2 years, 130 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | G. K. Vasan (born 1964) Rajya Sabha MP for Tamil Nadu (MoS, I/C) | 3 March 2009 | 22 May 2009 | 80 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Mallikarjun Kharge (born 1942) MP for Gulbarga | 28 May 2009 | 17 June 2013 | 4 years, 20 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Sis Ram Ola (1927–2013) MP for Jhunjhunu | 17 June 2013 | 15 December 2013 (died in office) | 181 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Oscar Fernandes (1941–2021) Rajya Sabha MP for Karnataka | 15 December 2013 | 26 May 2014 | 162 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Narendra Singh Tomar (born 1957) MP for Gwalior | 27 May 2014 | 9 November 2014 | 166 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| | | Bandaru Dattatreya (born 1947) MP for Secunderabad (MoS, I/C) | 9 November 2014 | 3 September 2017 | 2 years, 298 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| | | Santosh Kumar Gangwar (born 1948) MP for Bareilly (MoS, I/C) | 3 September 2017 | 30 May 2019 | 3 years, 307 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| | | Santosh Kumar Gangwar (born 1948) MP for Bareilly (MoS, I/C) | 31 May 2019 | 7 July 2021 | 3 years, 307 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi II | | Narendra Modi |
| | | Bhupender Yadav (born 1969) Rajya Sabha MP for Rajasthan | 7 July 2021 | 9 June 2024 | 2 years, 338 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi II | | Narendra Modi |
| | | Mansukh Mandaviya (born 1972) MP for Porbandar | 10 June 2024 | Incumbent | 273 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi III | | Narendra Modi |

## Ministers of State

| Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Birth-Death) Constituency | From | To | Period | Political party | Ministry | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| Minister of State of Labour and Employment ||||||||||
| | | Jaisukhlal Hathi (1909–1982) Rajya Sabha MP for Gujarat | 4 September 1963 | 24 January 1964 | 142 days | Indian National Congress | Nehru IV | | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| | | Kotha Raghuramaiah (1912–1979) MP for Guntur | 9 June 1964 | 13 June 1964 | 4 days | Indian National Congress | Shastri | | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| Minister of State of Labour, Employment and Rehabilitation ||||||||||
| | | Jagannath Rao (1909–?) MP for Chatrapur | 24 January 1966 | 14 February 1966 | 21 days | Indian National Congress | Indira I | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Lalit Narayan Mishra (1923–1975) Rajya Sabha MP for Bihar | 13 March 1967 | 14 November 1967 | 246 days | Indian National Congress | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Bhagwat Jha Azad (1922–2011) MP for Bhagalpur | 14 February 1969 | 18 March 1971 | 2 years, 32 days | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira II | | Indira Gandhi |
| Minister of State of Labour ||||||||||
| | | Larang Sai (1935–2004) MP for Sarguja | 14 August 1977 | 28 July 1979 | 1 year, 348 days | Janata Party | Desai | | Morarji Desai |
| | | Ram Kripal Sinha (1934–2023) Rajya Sabha MP for Bihar | 14 August 1977 | 28 July 1979 | 1 year, 348 days | Janata Party | Desai | | Morarji Desai |
| | | T. Anjaiah (1919–1986) MP for Secunderabad | 8 June 1980 | 11 October 1980 | 125 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Ram Dulari Sinha (1922–1994) MP for Sheohar | 19 October 1980 | 15 January 1982 | 1 year, 88 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| Minister of State of Labour and Rehabilitation ||||||||||
| | | Mohsina Kidwai (born 1932) MP for Meerut | 11 September 1982 | 29 January 1983 | 140 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Dharmavir Rajya Sabha MP for Uttar Pradesh | 29 January 1983 | 31 October 1984 | 1 year, 323 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Indira IV | | Indira Gandhi |
| | | Dharmavir Rajya Sabha MP for Uttar Pradesh | 4 November 1984 | 22 December 1984 | 1 year, 323 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv I | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Minister of State of Labour ||||||||||
| | | Radhakishan Malviya (1943–2013) Rajya Sabha MP for Madhya Pradesh | 4 July 1989 | 2 December 1989 | 151 days | Indian National Congress (I) | Rajiv II | | Rajiv Gandhi |
| | | Ram Ji Lal Suman (born 1950) MP for Firozabad | 21 November 1990 | 21 June 1991 | 212 days | Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) | Chandra Shekhar | | Chandra Shekhar |
| | | Muni Lall (1938–2019) MP for Sasaram | 13 October 1999 | 1 July 2002 | 2 years, 261 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| | | Ashok Kumar Pradhan (born 1953) MP for Khurja | 1 July 2002 | 29 January 2003 | 212 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| | | Vijay Goel (born 1954) MP for Chandni Chowk | 29 January 2003 | 24 May 2003 | 115 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| | | Santosh Kumar Gangwar (born 1948) MP for Bareilly | 24 May 2003 | 8 September 2003 | 107 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Vajpayee III | | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Minister of State of Labour and Employment ||||||||||
| | | Chandra Sekhar Sahu (born 1950) MP for Berhampur | 29 January 2006 | 24 October 2006 | 268 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan I | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Harish Rawat (born 1948) MP for Haridwar | 28 May 2009 | 19 January 2011 | 1 year, 236 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Kodikunnil Suresh (born 1962) MP for Mavelikara | 28 October 2012 | 26 May 2014 | 1 year, 210 days | Indian National Congress | Manmohan II | | Manmohan Singh |
| | | Vishnudeo Sai (born 1964) MP for Raigarh | 26 May 2014 | 9 November 2014 | 167 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi I | | Narendra Modi |
| | | Rameswar Teli (born 1970) MP for Dibrugarh | 7 July 2021 | 9 June 2024 | 2 years, 338 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi II | | Narendra Modi |
| | | Shobha Karandlaje (born 1966) MP for Bangalore North | 10 June 2024 | Incumbent | 273 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Modi III | | Narendra Modi |