Lok Sabha Question No. 5903 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Employment Data of Informal Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Praveen Khandelwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5903

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  MARCH, 2026

## EMPLOYMENT DATA OF INFORMAL WORKERS

## 5903.      SHRI PRAVEEN KHANDELWAL:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government updates sector-wise employment data relating to  informal  workers  in  metropolitan  regions,  including  Delhi  on  a periodic basis and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  enrolment  under  the  e-Shram  portal  has  enabled  portable access  to  social  security  benefits  for  workers  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether gig and platform workers are being covered under formal social protection frameworks and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  compliance  with  the  new  Labour  Codes  is  being  monitored through digital inspection mechanisms and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  formalisation  and protection of the urban informal workforce?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a)  to  (e):    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).  The  eShram  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 22.03.2026, over 31.57 crore unorganised workers have already been registered on eShram portal including over 36.36 lakh unorganised workers registered in Delhi.

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 -StopSolution' on 21st October 2024. eShram'One -StopSolution' 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 (ABPMJAY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojana -Urban  (PMAY-U),  Pradhan  Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN),  One  Nation  One  Ration  Card  (ONORC)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Matru Vandana 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  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020,  the  Industrial Relations  Code,  2020  and  the  Occupational  Safety,  Health  and  Working Conditions Code, 2020 w.e.f. 21.11.2025.

The  Code  provides  for  framing  of  suitable  welfare  schemes  for  gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection,  etc.  The  Code  provides  for  setting  up  a  Social  Security  Fund  to finance these welfare schemes. The Code also has provisions to constitute a National Social Security Board for the purposes of the welfare of gig workers and platform workers.

The  four  Labour  Codes  provide  for  single  registration,  licencing  and return, reduce  multiplicity of definitions &  authorities, facilitate use of technology, bring transparency & accountability in enforcement. Simultaneously,  it  strengthens  the  protection  available  to  workers,  including unorganized workers and promotes formalisation of workforce.

In order to ensure simplification of formats, ease of compliance, transparency  in  inspections  and  speedy  redressal  of  grievances,  Ministry  of Labour  &  Employment  has  developed  two  web  portals  viz.,  Shram  Suvidha Portal (SSP) for online registration of units, reporting of inspections, submission of  annual  returns  and  redressal  of  grievances  and  Samadhan  Portal  for redressal of grievances.

In addition, the Government is implementing Employment Linked Incentive  (ELI)  Scheme  named  as  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Viksit  Bharat  Rozgar Yojana  to  support  employment  generation,  enhance  employability  and  social security  across  all  sectors,  with  special  focus  on  the  manufacturing  sector. The scheme with an outlay of Rs 99,446 Crore aims to incentivize the creation of more than 3.5 Crore jobs in the country, over a period of 2 years.

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