Govt invites public response to draft labour and employment policy

The Ministry of Labour and Employment on Wednesday released the draft National Labour and Employment Policy – Shram Shakti Niti 2025 – for public consultation. According to the ministry statement, the draft presents a framework for a fair, inclusive and future-ready labour ecosystem aligned with the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The draft is based on the principle of śrama dharma, or the dignity of work. It aims to balance worker welfare with enterprise growth, focusing on protection, productivity and participation. The ministry said the policy seeks to ensure sustainable livelihoods while supporting business expansion.

The policy positions the Ministry of Labour and Employment as an “employment facilitator,” using technology to connect workers, employers and training institutions.

The National Career Service (NCS) platform will serve as India’s digital public infrastructure for employment. The platform will provide transparent job matching, credential verification and skill alignment. According to the official statement, the NCS will use open APIs, multilingual access and AI-driven systems to connect jobseekers and employers across Tier-II and Tier-III cities, rural areas and MSME clusters.

Social security and skills

The draft policy highlights universal social security, occupational safety and health, and empowerment of women and youth. It also emphasises green and technology-enabled jobs to prepare the workforce for new economic demands.

Business Standard reported that the draft calls for a resilient, continuously skilled workforce to meet the requirements of emerging technologies, climate transitions and global value chains. It proposes integrating EPFO, ESIC, e-Shram and NCS databases into a unified Labour Stack to enable lifelong learning, income security and social protection.

The ministry said the draft reflects consultations with stakeholders and stresses cooperative federalism, evidence-based policymaking and digital transparency. It sets out a long-term framework for coordinated action among the Centre, states, industry and social partners to ensure growth benefits are shared equitably.

The draft National Labour and Employment Policy is available on the websites of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Directorate General of Employment and the National Career Service. Feedback, comments and suggestions can be submitted by 27 October 2025 at ddg-dget[at]nic[dot]in.

The Hindu reported that the government will review inputs received from stakeholders before finalising the policy.