New Delhi, Nov 11 (NationPress) The Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya, called on states to synchronize their employment initiatives with the recently unveiled Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY), which boasts a financial commitment of nearly Rs 1 lakh crore to generate 3.5 crore additional jobs nationwide.

During the National Conference of Labour & Employment alongside Industry Ministers and Secretaries from states and Union Territories, the minister elaborated on the PMVBRY's framework aimed at enhancing formal employment and social security. He emphasized the necessity of cooperative efforts among all parties to guarantee the success of this initiative, ensuring welfare benefits reach every worker across the nation.

The Union Minister also introduced the Digital Labour Chowk mobile app and the Online BoCW Cess Collection Portal at the conference, which set forth a revolutionary vision for the welfare of India's construction workers through three pivotal digital and physical initiatives. The Labour Chowk Facilitation Centres (LCFCs) model was revealed, designed to elevate the dignity and safety of workers by transforming hazardous roadside gathering locations into organized centers that provide shelter, drinking water, sanitation, and direct access to welfare services, including registration and health camps.

In addition, the Digital Labour Chowk app serves as a multilingual platform that connects workers with employers digitally, fostering transparent and efficient job matching, while diminishing reliance on intermediaries and unsafe waiting conditions. To fortify the financial framework of welfare, the Online BOCW Cess Collection Portal introduces a cohesive digital system for automatic cess calculation, online payment, and real-time tracking, ensuring plan approvals are linked to cess verification and expediting the flow of funds to State Welfare Boards for worker benefits.

This two-day conference represents a crucial stride in the spirit of cooperative federalism, aimed at hastening the execution of vital labour policies and initiatives, along with promoting decent employment and social security measures.

In her opening remarks, Secretary (Labour & Employment) Vandana Gurnani highlighted that the National Conference on Labour & Employment acts as an essential dialogue for fostering national partnerships and translating discussions into meaningful action.

The conference featured discussions on significant agendas, including a presentation on the PMVBRY, which outlined its vision and structure, asserting that the scheme is predicated on enrolment in EPFO to incentivize additional employment in the formal sector and sustain it. The draft 'Shram Shakti Niti' (National Labour & Employment Policy) was also deliberated as a comprehensive vision document aimed at constructing an inclusive, fair, and resilient ecosystem for workers, propelling India's journey towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Furthermore, the draft Private Placement Agency (Regulation) Act, 2025 was explored, marking a significant move towards safeguarding Indian jobseekers. This proposed central legislation aims to establish uniform national standards to regulate the currently fragmented placement ecosystem, enhancing transparency and accountability in both domestic and overseas recruitment. Its core mechanism involves the registration of all private placement agencies, thereby creating a singular national registry. It also sets up a three-tier regulatory authority at the Central, State, and local levels to enforce compliance and cultivate a trusted, safe, and transparent placement ecosystem for every worker.