Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje Leads 2nd Regional Meeting on Labour Reforms and Employment in Chandigarh.
Chandigarh:
Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, chaired the second regional meeting on labour reforms and employment today in Chandigarh. The meeting, which included representatives from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan, is part of a series of nationwide consultations aimed at enhancing cooperative federalism and advancing labour reforms.
In her address, Karandlaje emphasized the necessity of modernizing India’s labour laws to transform the country into the world’s largest economy by 2047. She highlighted the government’s efforts to simplify and harmonize 29 pre-independence era labour laws into four comprehensive Labour Codes.
The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing social protection for unorganized workers through initiatives such as the e-Shram portal, which now registers over 30 crore workers. She called for enhanced collaboration between the Centre and States/UTs to ensure effective implementation of labour reforms and expansion of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) services.
Sumita Dawra, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, outlined the need for consistent regulatory frameworks and better alignment between central and state rules to facilitate seamless Labour Code rollouts. She also urged States/UTs to integrate with the e-Shram portal and leverage the new Building and Other Construction Workers (BoCW) Management Information System (MIS) portal for improved data-driven policymaking.
The meeting provided a platform for States/UTs to share best practices and address concerns regarding labour reforms and employment generation. The next regional meeting is scheduled to be held in Rajkot, focusing on western States and UTs.
Dr. Onkar Sharma, Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), expressed gratitude for the States/UTs’ participation and support, affirming the central government’s commitment to aiding their efforts in advancing labour reforms.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment continues to push forward with its agenda to improve worker welfare and job creation across the country.
