States Advocate for Timely Information on Employment and Job Fairs

Representatives from various states on Friday recommended consistent and timely reporting of employment and job fair details to the National Career Services (NCS) portal to enhance job creation. Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shobha Karandlaje chaired a significant regional meeting in Bengaluru with six states/UTs, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as stated by the labour ministry.

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Focus on Labour Reforms

This meeting is the first in a series of six regional meetings planned by the Ministry of Labour and Employment with all states/UTs, highlighting cooperative federalism. The discussions centred around labour reforms, the eShram Portal, Building & Other Construction Workers (BoCW), and enhancing employment generation. These discussions reflect the government's commitment to inclusive development and workforce welfare.

During the meeting, states emphasised the importance of timely and regular submission of employment returns and job fair details on the NCS portal. They also proposed a time-bound two-way integration with the e-Shram portal. This integration aims to create employment data and adopt a focused approach for generating quality jobs while consulting on state rule framing.

Modernisation and Partnerships

Suggestions included modernising employment exchanges and forming partnerships with educational institutions and industries. Improving ESIC services through optimal infrastructure utilisation and forming state ESIC Societies were also discussed. These measures aim to enhance service delivery and create better job opportunities.

Union Labour Secretary Sumita Dawra urged states to harmonise their specific rules with Central Labour Codes to ensure uniformity and ease of compliance nationwide. She stressed that this harmonisation should be done in consultation with industry, trade unions, and other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive compliance.

The minister encouraged participating states to align their initiatives with those of other states and the central government's overall vision. This alignment is crucial for achieving cohesive development goals across the country.

The meeting underscored the need for a consultative approach in framing state rules. This approach involves engaging various stakeholders to ensure that policies are inclusive and effective in addressing workforce challenges.

The labour ministry's statement highlighted that this regional meeting is part of a broader effort to foster cooperative federalism. By engaging multiple states/UTs in these discussions, the ministry aims to create a unified approach towards labour reforms and employment generation.

The focus on modernising employment exchanges is seen as a critical step towards improving job matching services. By partnering with educational institutions and industries, states can better align skill development programs with market needs.

Improving ESIC services was another key point of discussion. States suggested utilising existing infrastructure optimally to enhance service delivery for workers. The formation of state ESIC Societies was proposed as a means to achieve this goal.

The emphasis on timely reporting to the NCS portal is expected to provide more accurate data on employment trends. This data can help policymakers make informed decisions about job creation strategies.

The meeting concluded with a call for states to work collaboratively towards common goals. By aligning their efforts with central policies, states can contribute more effectively to national development objectives.

Overall, this regional meeting marks a significant step towards fostering cooperative federalism in labour reforms. The discussions held are expected to pave the way for more coordinated efforts in enhancing employment generation across India.