New Delhi: Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launched two significant initiatives – state and Union Territory microsites under the e-Shram initiative and the Occupational Shortage Index (OSI) – during a meeting with state and UT labour ministers and secretaries held in New Delhi. Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje, labour ministers from various states and UTs, Secretary Sumita Dawra, and senior officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment were also present.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said the multilingual e-Shram microsite facility is a transformative initiative aimed at ensuring that unorganised workers have seamless access to both state and central government welfare programmes. He said this will not only empower workers but also enhance transparency and efficiency in welfare service delivery.

Regarding the OSI, he added that by leveraging real-time labour market data, skill development and job matching processes will be data-driven and tailored to the actual needs of industries, making the workforce future-ready.

e-Shram microsites are state-specific digital platforms seamlessly integrated with the national e-Shram database. Facilitating two-way integration between state portals and the e-Shram portal, these microsites will simplify the registration of unorganised workers. They will provide a one-stop solution for seamless access to both central and state welfare programmes, employment opportunities, skilling programmes, and more.

For states and UTs, the microsites provide a ready-to-use digital infrastructure, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming development processes. With real-time analytic dashboards, they will facilitate better policy decision-making and allow states to include tools specific to their labour market requirements.

For workers, the microsites offer a seamless registration process and access to a wide range of social security benefits. The platform ensures multilingual accessibility, enabling workers from different regions to access information and services 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) to match labour market demand and supply, enhancing employment outcomes across India. Based on ILO methodology and quarterly PLFS data, the OSI provides data-driven insights into occupations facing shortages, helping align job seekers' skills with industry demands.

The OSI will support policymakers, training institutions, and businesses in bridging skill gaps in high-demand sectors. The index is designed to enable more effective decision-making in workforce planning and skill development initiatives, optimising job matching and guiding state governments and employers in creating targeted skill development programmes.

BI Bureau