A two-day capacity-building programme on ‘Social Security Schemes, Labour Codes, and the BOCW-MIS Portal’ is being held from 21 to 22 October, 2024, for labour welfare commissioners of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
This programme, which is being attended by 30 welfare commissioners, deputy welfare commissioners, assistant welfare commissioners, and welfare administrators from various regions of the country, is a step towards ensuring the welfare of unorganised labour force, by the Ministry. It aims to empower welfare commissioners and administrators with the knowledge and tools required to ensure efficient handling of data and resources, improving the implementation of welfare schemes across various sectors.
The event was inaugurated by Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment Sumita Dawra, at the VV Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI), Noida.
The programme is part of a broader initiative by the Ministry to strengthen the understanding and skills of these officers who play a pivotal role in ensuring the welfare of unorganised workers
These officers play a significant role in safeguarding the interests of workers in unorganised, informal sector. Without the effective implementation of welfare schemes using innovative strategies or building synergies with State, district and local administration, it would be difficult to ensure the welfare of the workers in the unorganised sector, noted Dawra. She also emphasised the importance of administering labour laws with an approach that facilitates compliance, ensuring an investment-friendly ecosystem for employment generation along with labour welfare.
Welfare Commissioners were told to focus on enhancing welfare of unorganised workers by expanding the reach of key government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PMSYM), Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), PM-Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojna ( life insurance) and PM- Suraksha Bima Yojana ( accidental insurance).
It was stated that one of the priorities should be to strengthen the implementation of the Labour Reforms and focus on the effective functioning of digital platforms such as the e-Shram Portal and the Building and other Construction Workers Management Information System (BOCW-MIS) Portal.
By the end of programme, participants are expected to have gained a better understanding of welfare provisions, including through improved data handling, which will lead to more efficient monitoring of implementation of these schemes across the country.