Ministry of Labour & Employment
Shri Bhupender Yadav says in last 9 years labour policy reforms have ensured empowerment of workers providing minimum wages, job security, social security and health security
29 labour laws converted into 4 simple labour codes , 28.93 crore unorganised workers registered on e-Shram portal in more than 400 occupations , more than 1.39 Crore vacancies mobilized since launch of National Career Service : Shri Yadav
Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav has said in the last 9 years India has done a lot for workers in both unorganised and organised sectors, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press conference on achievements of 9 years of the Ministry of Labour & Employment in New Delhi today he said the country is now changing, reforming, simplifying labour laws. Shri Yadav said with this in mind 29 labour laws have been converted into 4 simple labour codes. He said this will ensure empowerment of workers via minimum wages, job security, social security and health security.
Shri Yadav highlighted various flagship schemes meant for welfare for workers such as e-Shram Portal, National Career Service , Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana , Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Scheme  and how these have benefited workers.
Shri Yadav said that the e-Shram portal is one of the key initiatives to create a national data base for unorganised workers. A total of 28.93 crore unorganised workers have registered on the portal in more than 400 occupations. More occupation will be added. He said e-Shram portal is also integrated with NCS and Skill India Portal  portal.
The Union Minister mentioned National Career Service  was Launched in 2015 to provide a variety of employment related services on digital platforms. He said as on 31.05.2023, the NCS platform has 3.20 crore registered Jobseekers, 11.25 Lakh active employers and 6.42 lakh active vacancies. He said vacancies mobilized since its launched are more than 1.39 Crore. It is integrated with e-Shram, Udyam and Skill India Portal , he added.
Shri Yadav said Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation -linked Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana  was launched on 30.12.2020 with an expenditure of ₹ 22,810 crore for the period i.e. FY 2020-2024 to boost employment generation and to minimize socio-economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
He said as on 30.05.2023, 1,52,278 establishments have claimed benefits amounting to ₹ 9382.16 Crores in respect of 60.40 Lakh beneficiaries.
Shri Yadav said around 44.33 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Scheme  as on 31.05.2023 which was launched on 15th February, 2019 assuring minimum monthly pension of Rs.3000/- after the age of 60 years to the workers of unorganized sector.
The Union Minister said Shram Suvidha Portal  was Launched on 16th October, 2014 to promote effective, efficient and real-time governance by bringing transparency and accountability in labour laws, easing compliance and reducing transaction costs. Also integrated with the National Single Window System Portal  of DPIIT, it enables investors to apply for licenses and registrations under labour laws on single sign-on at NSWS, he added.
Shri Yadav also highlighted various policy reforms such as decriminalization under Labour codes, Maternity Benefit, Welfare for SC/ST job seekers and Labour welfare scheme for Beedi/cine/Non-Coal Mines workers, in the last 9 years. He said notified paid maternity leave was increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for two surviving children and 12 weeks for more than two children. Commissioning / Adopting Mothers’ will get 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for the first time, he added.
The Union Minister also highlighted major developments in ESIC in the last nine years. Numbers of districts covered under ESI Scheme increased from 393 in 2014 to 611 at present. Insured Persons and beneficiaries are 3.10 crore and are 12.03 crore respectively at present compared to 2.03 crore IPs and 7.89 crore beneficiaries in 2014. Number of hospitals increased from 151 in 2014 to 161, similarly, dispensaries also increased 1418 to 1502. Medical colleges are 8 presently as compared to 4 in 2014. Number of MBBS seats increased from 400 in 2014 to 950. Number of MD/MS seats increased from 60 in 2014 to 275. DNB broad specialty seats are 81 now, whereas there was no seat in 2014.In 2019 contribution rate reduced to 4% from 6.5%. Future expansion of ESIC include 89 new hospitals with additional 10120 beds and 202 new dispensaries.
Highlighting major developments in EPFO Shri Yadav said Memberships of EPFO increased from 15.84 crore in 2014 -15 to 27.73 crore in 2021-22. Claim settled to the tune of Rs130.21 lakh in 2014-15 , which increased to Rs390.97 lakh. Coverage of establishments was 8.61 lakh in 2014-15 and increased to 18.65 lakhs in 2021-22. Number of pensioners was 72.73 lakh in 2021-22 as against 51.04 lakh in 2014-15. Shri Yadav said major reforms in EPFO are Universal Account Number  launched in 2014 wherein each PF member is allotted UAN which acts as umbrella account for his multiple PF account numbers, extending all services through a single number; e-Passbook facility provided to EPF subscribers through which balance in PF account can be checked online; E-Collection of contributions through internet banking which has resulted in saving of time, effort and money for employers; introduced Digital Life Certificate for pensioners which has done away with the requirement of pensioners to be physically present in banks or PF offices for submission of life certificate; revamped Online EPFiGMS portal for faster redressal of grievances of PF subscribers. He said EPFO services were added on Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance  platform in 2017 wherein members can view their e-passbook, and raise/track their claims etc.