Shram Samvad Lucknow: Labour Codes awareness programme on Oct 26-27
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Labour Ministry, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government, is set to hold a two-day state-level capacity-building and awareness programme in Lucknow on 26-27 October 2026, covering Labour Codes, Labour Welfare, and Social Protection. The event forms part of the nationwide Shram Samvad initiative, which focuses on district-level outreach and clarity on recently enacted labour reforms.
Programme Structure and Key Sessions
Day 1 will centre on 'Labour Reforms', with the keynote address delivered by the Secretary (Labour and Employment). Key sessions will cover international labour mobility, social protection measures for unorganised and gig/platform workers, and initiatives under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) framework.
Anil Rajbhar, State Minister for Labour and Employment in Uttar Pradesh, will address a key session in the afternoon. Subsequent sessions will feature insights from the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
Technology and Implementation Focus
The programme will also spotlight the use of technology platforms for workers' welfare, including e-Shram, the Shram Suvidha Portal, SAMADHAN, and Labour Stack. Best practices and rollout strategies by the state government will be discussed alongside these digital tools.
Day 2 will shift focus to 'Implementation of Labour Codes and Way Forward', with technical sessions chaired by senior officials from the ministry. Notably, both days will feature structured open discussion sessions designed to address operational concerns, regulatory compliance questions, and practical queries from participants and industry stakeholders.
About the Shram Samvad Initiative
The Shram Samvad campaign was launched nationwide on 28 September 2026 as a 90-day outreach initiative. The Ministry is conducting district-level engagement across 316 districts in all 36 states and Union Territories, with a special focus on industrial clusters.
The initiative aims to give employers and stakeholders greater clarity on the provisions, applicability, and compliance requirements under the new Labour Codes — facilitating effective ground-level implementation of reforms that have been in the pipeline for several years.
Why This Matters
India's four new Labour Codes — consolidating 29 central labour laws — have been passed by Parliament but implementation has remained uneven across states. Events like the Lucknow programme are intended to bridge that gap, particularly for states with large unorganised workforces like Uttar Pradesh. The focus on gig and platform workers reflects a broader recognition that India's rapidly expanding digital labour market requires dedicated social protection frameworks. With the Shram Samvad campaign reaching its midpoint, the Lucknow conclave is among the higher-profile state-level events in the series.