Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Odisha Labour and ESI Minister Sri Ganeshram Singhkhuntia actively participated in a high-level national consultation on labour reforms, chaired by Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. The meeting focused on reforms designed to ensure dignity, security, and opportunity for India’s workforce while supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The Odisha delegation, including Principal Secretary Smt. Chithra Arumugam and Labour Commissioner Sri Indramani Tripathy, contributed to discussions on simplifying labour regulations. Dr. Mandaviya stressed that transparent, inclusive, and digitally enabled governance is essential for workforce empowerment.
The ministers discussed introducing a single registration process for establishments, extending licence validity, and enabling automatic renewals to reduce compliance burdens. They also proposed mandatory appointment letters to formalize employment, ensuring workers understand their rights and entitlements.
Increasing female workforce participation received special emphasis, along with creating safe and inclusive work environments. Digital platforms such as the National Career Service (NCS) and e-Shram will help provide continuous employment and social security benefits, applying the principle of “once covered, always covered” for insured workers.
The meeting also considered legal reforms, including rationalizing penalties and allowing compounding of offences under Section 14 to encourage compliance through constructive measures rather than punishment.
Minister Singh khuntia welcomed the reforms, noting that they would directly benefit the “real labourers” who contribute to nation-building through their hard work. He reiterated Odisha’s commitment to implementing these changes at the grassroots level across rural and urban areas, ensuring the reforms reach the workers who need them most.
Dr. Mandaviya concluded by urging all states and union territories to share reform-oriented ideas promptly. He emphasized that cooperation among the Union Government, State Governments, and local administrations will ensure successful implementation, strengthen India’s labour ecosystem, and empower the nation’s workforce for the future.
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