Shram Shakti Niti: A Renewed Vision for India's Labour and Employment Landscape
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Economy (Labour, Social Security, Government Schemes - Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), e-SHRAM); Indian Polity and Governance (New Policies).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Social Justice & Governance): Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population...and the performance of these schemes; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Human Resources; Government policies and interventions.
General Studies Paper 3 (Economy): Indian Economy and issues relating to employment; Inclusive growth; Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy.
Key Highlights from the News
The Central Government has released the draft of a new National Labour and Employment Policy named "Shram Shakti Niti, 2025" for public opinion.
Main Objective: To create a just, inclusive, and worker-welfare-oriented labour ecosystem, aligned with the goal of a developed India by 2047.
Key Proposals in the Draft Policy:
Universal and portable social security: Create a "Universal Account" for every worker by integrating various schemes like EPFO, ESIC, PM-JAY, e-SHRAM.
Implement the Occupational Safety and Health Code. As part of this, risk-based inspections will be conducted.
Increase the female labour-force participation rate to 35% by 2030.
A simple, single-window for digital compliance for MSMEs.
Promote green jobs.
Increase the use of AI-driven labour-governance in the labour sector.
This policy is intended to be implemented in three phases.
There are plans to establish a Labour & Employment Policy Evaluation Index (LPEI) to assess the performance of states and to submit an Annual National Labour Report to Parliament every year.
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