New Delhi: In a significant step to empower unorganised workers and address skill mismatches in the labour market, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, today launched two transformative initiatives – the State and Union Territory Microsites under the e-Shram initiative and the Occupational Shortage Index (OSI). The launch took place during a meeting with State/UT Labour Ministers & Secretaries in New Delhi.
Present at the event were Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, along with Labour Ministers from various States/UTs, Sumita Dawra, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and senior officials of the Ministry.
The launch of the e-Shram Microsites marks a major milestone in providing unorganised workers across India with better access to government welfare schemes. These state-specific digital platforms are integrated with the national e-Shram database, facilitating seamless registration and access to a wide range of services, including welfare programs, employment opportunities, and skill development initiatives.
In his address, Dr. Mandaviya described the e-Shram Microsites as a transformative initiative, emphasizing its role in empowering unorganised workers. “The multilingual eShram microsite facility is a game-changer for ensuring that unorganised workers have seamless access to both State and Central government welfare programs. This will not only empower workers but also enhance transparency and efficiency in welfare service delivery,” he stated.
For States/UTs, the microsites provide a ready-to-use digital infrastructure, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming development processes. The real-time analytic dashboards integrated into the platform will help State governments make informed policy decisions and tailor solutions to their labour market requirements.
For workers, the microsites offer a seamless registration process and ensure access to a wide range of social security benefits. The platform’s multilingual capability ensures workers from different regions can access the information in their preferred language. Through two-way integration with the e-Shram database, workers will receive real-time updates on welfare schemes and employment opportunities.
The second major initiative launched is the Occupational Shortage Index (OSI), a data-driven tool designed to match labour market demand and supply across India. Using real-time labour market data from the Quarterly PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) and following ILO (International Labour Organization) methodology, the OSI provides insights into occupations facing shortages, helping job seekers align their skills with the needs of industries.
In his remarks, Dr. Mandaviya stated, “By leveraging real-time labour market data, we are ensuring that skill development and job matching processes are data-driven and tailored to the actual needs of industries, making our workforce future-ready.”
The OSI is expected to support policymakers, training institutions, and businesses in bridging skill gaps in high-demand sectors. By offering data-driven insights into the labour market, the OSI will help optimize job matching and guide State governments and employers in creating targeted skill development programs that meet the needs of the industry.
These two initiatives are poised to enhance the employment outcomes of millions of unorganised workers, improving their access to both welfare schemes and job opportunities. By combining state-of-the-art technology, data-driven insights, and multilingual accessibility, the e-Shram Microsites and Occupational Shortage Index reflect the government’s commitment to empowering workers and ensuring that they have the necessary skills and opportunities to succeed in a rapidly evolving labour market.
As Dr. Mandaviya concluded, these initiatives are part of the broader vision to make India’s workforce future-ready and aligned with industry needs, ensuring that the country’s labour force continues to grow in an inclusive and sustainable manner.