Union Minister Sushri Shobha Karandlaje Inaugurates Regional Conference on Labour Reforms in North-Eastern States

Guwahati: Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, today inaugurated the regional conference for the eight North-Eastern states in Guwahati. The conference brought together representatives from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura to discuss key issues related to labour reforms and employment generation. This marks the sixth and final meeting in a series of regional workshops organized by the Ministry of Labour and Employment with States and Union Territories.

The conference focused on a range of topics including the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, the eShram-One Stop Solution platform, welfare for Building & Other Construction Workers (BoCW), and strategies for quality employment generation and data sharing.

In her address, Sushri Karandlaje stressed the importance of states in driving the successful implementation of labour reforms and enhancing social security for unorganized and migrant workers. She called for bridging gaps in state-level labour rules under the new codes and encouraged states to align their frameworks with the larger vision of national labour reforms. She highlighted the need to prioritize social security for BoCW workers through effective use of cess and ensuring welfare for migrant workers.

Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, emphasized the importance of adopting a comprehensive, “whole-of-government” approach to reforming the labour sector. She noted that harmonizing state rules with labour codes is essential for promoting ease of compliance, which will help both employers and employees better understand their rights and obligations. Additionally, Dawra underscored the importance of financial literacy among employees and encouraged states to actively promote the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme.

States were urged to proactively engage in the integration process to further develop the eShram portal as a One-Stop Solution for workers’ welfare and employment data. Key discussions around the BoCW framework included expanding welfare coverage, integrating data with eShram for better registration and portability of benefits, and ensuring regular audits.

The meeting also addressed strategies for employment generation, with a focus on modernizing employment exchanges, building stronger partnerships with educational institutions, and fostering collaboration between the industry and government. Discussions also included improving ESIC services through infrastructure optimization and strengthening fund flow systems. EPFO and ESIC regional offices were encouraged to hold regular meetings with states to resolve pending issues.

An interactive session saw active participation from state representatives and ministry officials, discussing state-specific concerns and best practices. Labour Secretaries from Assam and Sikkim demonstrated portals and mobile apps developed to assist BoCW workers, showcasing innovative solutions for worker welfare.

Concluding the event, Alok Chandra, Senior Labour & Employment Adviser, thanked the state representatives for their active participation and lauded the Assam State Government for its support in organizing the meeting. The regional conference laid the groundwork for future partnerships between North-Eastern states and the Government of India, unlocking new avenues for employment and ensuring worker welfare.