On October 7, 2024, Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, presided over a crucial high-level meeting in New Delhi on employment data.Â
The focus of this meeting was twofold: addressing key issues related to the data on employment within India and understanding trends in overseas emigration.
Employment Data: Strengthening Coordination and Data Assimilation
The deliberations during the meeting involved representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and NITI Aayog. Their primary goal was to enhance coordination and data assimilation for both overseas employment and domestic job creation.
Union Minister emphasized the need for a robust mechanism to collect complete data on citizens going abroad for employment or studies, particularly to ECR (Emigration Check Required) and Non-ECR countries.
To achieve this, he proposed integrating various platforms, including the National Career Service (NCS) portal, MY Bharat Platform, MADAD, eMigrate, and eShram portals.
Such integration would provide a comprehensive view of employment supply and demand.
Role of Industry Associations
Union Minister highlighted the pivotal role that industry associations can play in collating this data on employment. By actively involving these associations, the government aims to bridge existing data gaps, especially in the informal sector.Â
The Minister also emphasized the importance of NITI Aayog as an umbrella organization capable of facilitating the compilation of employment-related data from various Ministries.
During the meeting, participants discussed the standardization of contracts with foreign employers. Ensuring uniformity in employment contracts is essential to protect the rights and interests of Indian workers abroad.
Additionally, the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangements (MMPA) and Social Security Agreements (SSA) were reviewed to assess their effectiveness. Feedback from these agreements will guide future policy decisions.
Unified Employment Data Portal
To centralize this information regarding employment, the proposed Unified Employment Data Portal will serve as a transformative tool.
This platform will integrate information from various government schemes and sectors, providing policymakers with a comprehensive view of employment trends.
Simultaneously, integrating eMigrate and NCS will expand access to international job markets for Indian workers.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to several critical objectives. This included strengthening and coordinating the statistical information on employment, expanding overseas job opportunities.
The meeting also focussed on ensuring the safety and welfare of Indian workers abroad.
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