Recently, e-Shram portal has achieved a milestone of over 30 crore registered Unorganised Workers.
What is E Shram Portal?
E-Shram portal – It is a flagship initiative by the Government of India that was launched in 2021 to support and empower the unorganized workforce.
Nodal ministry – Ministry of Labour and Employment
Database – It is designed to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), world’s largest database of unorganised workers.
Aadhaar link – It is verified and seeded with Aadhaar, enabling the delivery of targeted welfare schemes and benefits.
Registration on the E-Shram portal is free of cost.
Eligibility to register:
Aged between 16 and 59 years.
Be employed in the unorganized sector, including self-employed individuals, daily wage labourers, and gig workers.
Possess an Aadhaar card, a valid mobile number linked to Aadhaar, and a bank account.
Not be a member of the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) or Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
Number of registrations – 30,48,02,313 (As on December 19, 2024).
Top states with registrations:
Uttar Pradesh (8,37,45,287)
Bihar (2,95,88,748)
West Bengal (2,64,06,322)
Madhya Pradesh (1,84,48,886)
Maharashtra (1,73,33,185)
What are the key features of E-Shram portal?
Universal Account Number (UAN) – Registered workers receive a UAN linked to their Aadhaar, enabling seamless access to benefits.
Single registration process – The portal streamlines the registration process, requiring minimal documentation such as Aadhaar and bank account details.
Multilingual support – Workers from diverse regions can access the portal in multiple Indian languages, ensuring inclusivity.
Grievance redressal mechanism – A dedicated helpline and support system address workers’ queries and grievances promptly.
Integration with employment and skill opportunities – Registered workers can connect with employment opportunities, skilling, pension and state-specific schemes through the portal.
Family details for migrant workers – It captures family details of migrant workers to aid child education and women-centric schemes for those who have migrated with their families.
Data Sharing Portal (DSP) – It allows the secure sharing of e-Shram beneficiary data with State and Union Territory governments and Building and Other Construction Workers’ (BOCW) Welfare Boards.
What are key developments with respect to the E-Shram Portal?
Integration with Gati Shakti – To align infrastructure development with workforce planning.
It enables workers registered on the E-Shram Portal to access job openings linked to Gati Shakti initiatives.
International accolades – The e-Shram portal and its development were well appreciated at the 112th International Labour Conference (ILC).
Integration with central schemes – 12 schemes of different Central Ministries / Departments have already been integrated/ mapped with the e-Shram.
Integration with other portals – To provide one-stop labour services solution and to connect job-seekers with potential employers and skill providers.
E-Shram One-Stop-Solution – It was launched in 2024 integrate different social security/welfare schemes at e-Shram portal.
By providing a unified platform for registration, benefits and job opportunities, the portal addresses long-standing gaps in the labor market.
With over 30 crore workers already registered, the E-Shram Portal is well on its way to transforming the lives of millions and building a stronger, more resilient workforce for the future.
Building and Other Construction Workers' (BOCW) Welfare Boards
BOCW Welfare Boards are responsible for providing welfare measures for construction workers.
These boards are established by state governments under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996.
The boards' functions include:
Providing immediate assistance to beneficiaries in the event of an accident
Paying pensions
Sanctioning loans and advances for house construction
Paying amounts for group insurance premiums
Providing financial assistance for children's education
Meeting medical expenses for major ailments
To be eligible for registration as a beneficiary of the BOCW Welfare Fund, a building worker must meet the following criteria:
Should be between the ages of 18 and 60.
Have been employed in construction work for at least 90 days in the previous 12 months.
