Labour secretary Sumita Dawra reviews functioning of attached offices of ministry of labour and employment

Labour secretary Sumita Dawra directed the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation to gear up for the launch of the three employment-linked incentive schemes announced in Budget 2024-25.


In a review meeting with all attached offices of the ministry of labour and employment, secretary Dawra asked EPFO to focus on preparations for the launch of ELI scheme, with respect to preparedness of IT infrastructure and aspects related to capacity building, the ministry said in a statement issued Tuesday after the meeting.



“EPFO was also directed to be ready with various important aspects of the scheme to be reported to the central board of trustees (CBT) of EPFO at its upcoming meeting on November 30, 2024,” it added.


The secretary took a comprehensive review on the functioning of offices of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) and training institutions including the VV Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) and Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development (DTNBWED).


According to the statement, the review meeting is aimed at ensuring that the offices undertake faster resolution of pending cases of industrial disputes and claim cases, timely onboard the inspection reports on Shram Suvidha Portal and to streamline the inspection process by reviewing its formats.


The secretary also reviewed pendency of cases in the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Courts (CGITs) and emphasized on bringing reforms through e-Courts.


“Both training institutes of the ministry, vis DTNBWED and VVGNLI, were directed to review, rationalize and monitor the existing training modules in a time bound manner, so as to align with contemporary requirements related to labour welfare and employment,” it said, adding that the Capacity Building Commission will also be consulted in the process.


The secretary also reviewed progress in the Labour Bureau with respect to finalization of various surveys including the All India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES) and the progress of Minimum Wage Committee.


Emphasis was laid on upgradation of the National Career Service (NCS) portal and convergence of National Career Service Centres for differently abled with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Further, the centre directed ESIC to focus on their priorities related to construction, establishment of new medical colleges, procurement, human resources (HR) related work, strengthening audit cells and bringing about improvement in both ESIC and ESIS Hospitals.


“Policy related to the tie up of ESIC with Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) was also emphasized,” the ministry said.


As per the statement, secretary Dawra highlighted the need to strengthen social security for workers including unorganized workers with respect to healthcare, retirement benefits, pension, schemes of the government to improve the health and productivity of the employees, which in turn will contribute to nation building and Viksit Bharat.