Punjab Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond has proposed that workers registered under e-Shram be provided with medical insurance, stipends for their children, and pension benefits after retirement. He made this suggestion while addressing a two-day conference of Labour Ministers and Labour Secretaries, which concluded in New Delhi last evening.
During the session, Sond co-chaired a discussion alongside the Union Labour Minister. He emphasized the importance of skill identification and training through ITIs and polytechnics and highlighted the need for upskilling and continuous support for workers. The two-day conference, chaired by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Labour and Employment, aimed to discuss best practices in labour welfare and address key challenges faced by workers.
Punjab’s Labour Secretary Manvesh Singh Sidhu informed the forum about the 100% computerization of the state’s Labour Department, which has transformed it into a paperless, transparent, and efficient system. He explained how this initiative has enhanced accountability, ease of doing business, and service delivery.
The forum also appreciated the Punjab Kirti Sahayak App, which enables anytime, anywhere registration of construction workers, uses Aadhaar e-KYC for biometric authentication, and ensures time-bound service delivery. Discussions at the conference covered best practices in construction worker welfare, the convergence of ESIC with the ABJAY scheme, and improvements in primary healthcare services.
Special attention was given to enhancing the registration of unorganized workers through e-Shram, defining a roadmap for the National Career Service, and exploring initiatives like PM Education to Employment Lounges. The conference was attended by Anurag Kundu, Member PDC; Karun Arora, Advisor to the Labour Minister; and Jashandeep Singh Kang, Deputy Secretary, B.O.C.W. Welfare Board.