INDIA UNLEASHES RS 1 LAKH CRORE JOB WAR CHEST: 3.5 Crore New Roles & Digital Revolution to Transform Employment!

The central government is urging states and Union Territories to collaborate and share innovative strategies for implementing new labor and employment initiatives, emphasizing the critical role of effective execution in achieving the vision of a Developed India. This call came during the National Conference of Labour, Employment, and Industry Ministers and Secretaries.

A key focus was the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY), a scheme designed with an outlay of approximately ₹1 lakh crore, aiming to generate 3.5 crore new formal sector jobs. The scheme's structure, centered around Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) enrollment, is intended to incentivize the creation and sustainability of these jobs. Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, stressed the importance of aligning state employment and skilling programs with this national mission for maximum synergy and impact.

The conference also reviewed the draft National Labour and Employment Policy, titled ‘Shram Shakti Niti,’ and a proposed Private Placement Agency Bill, both aimed at modernizing India's employment ecosystem. Discussions focused on turning policy decisions into tangible outcomes on the ground and ensuring sustained coordination among all stakeholders.

Two significant digital initiatives were launched: the Digital Labour Chowk mobile application and the Online BOCW (Building and Other Construction Workers) Cess Collection Portal. The Digital Labour Chowk app is a multilingual platform designed to directly connect workers with employers, promoting transparent and efficient job matching while reducing reliance on middlemen. The Online BOCW Cess Collection Portal introduces a unified digital system for automatic cess calculation and online payments, accelerating fund flow to State Welfare Boards.

**Impact** These comprehensive initiatives are poised to significantly boost formal job creation, enhance worker welfare through better social security and access to services, and modernize the overall employment landscape in India. Increased formal employment can lead to higher consumer spending, improved tax revenues, and greater economic productivity, positively influencing investor sentiment and corporate earnings. The focus on digital solutions promises greater efficiency and transparency in the labor market. Rating: 8/10

**Terms** * **Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY):** A government scheme aimed at generating employment and promoting the formalization of jobs. * **EPFO:** Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, which manages provident fund, pension scheme, and insurance scheme for employees in the organised sector. * **Viksit Bharat:** Literally meaning 'Developed India,' a vision of India's future development trajectory. * **Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas:** A guiding principle or slogan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing inclusive development, collective effort, and trust. * **BOCW:** Building and Other Construction Workers, referring to a category of workers predominantly in the construction sector. * **Digital Labour Chowk:** A mobile application intended to facilitate direct job matching between workers and employers without intermediaries. * **Labour Chowk Facilitation Centres (LCFCs):** Physical centres established to organize informal worker gathering points into structured hubs offering amenities and direct access to welfare services.