Published on: October 6, 2025

DRAFT NATIONAL LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT POLICY

DRAFT NATIONAL LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT POLICY

NEWS – The draft National Labour and Employment Policy (Shram Shakti Niti, 2025) has been released for public consultation, proposing a universal, portable social security framework and reforms to strengthen India’s labour ecosystem.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key Objectives

  • Universal and portable social security: Integration of EPFO, ESIC, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, e-SHRAM, and State Welfare Boards into a single account.
  • Female labour participation: Target to reach 35% by 2030.
  • MSME compliance: Single-window digital compliance platform with self-certification and simplified returns.
  • Future-ready workforce: Promotion of green jobs, AI-enabled safety systems, and skill-credit convergence.

Policy Provisions

  • Implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Code with risk-based inspections and gender-sensitive standards.
  • Integration of skills development schemes and career guidance for youth.
  • Creation of a “One Nation Integrated Workforce” ecosystem for unified worker registration and social security portability.
  • Promotion of decent and formal jobs, reduction of informal employment, and just-transition pathways for workers.
  • Establishment of AI-driven labour governance capacity across all states.

Implementation Phases

  1. Phase I (2025–27): Institutional setup and social security integration.
  2. Phase II (2027–30): Nationwide rollout of universal social security accounts, skill-credit systems, and district-level Employment Facilitation Cells.
  3. Phase III (post-2030): Paperless governance, predictive analytics, and continuous policy renewal.

Monitoring and Accountability

  • Real-time dashboards to track progress.
  • Labour & Employment Policy Evaluation Index (LPEI) benchmarking state performance.
  • Annual National Labour Report to Parliament for transparency and policy oversight.

Significance

  • Envisions a fair, inclusive, and future-ready labour ecosystem aligned with India’s development goals by 2047.
  • Aims to balance workers’ welfare with enterprise growth and sustainable livelihoods.