India's 'Shram Shakti Niti 2025' Aims to Connect Informal Workers to Jobs and Skills
The Indian government is set to launch a comprehensive digital initiative, Shram Shakti Niti 2025, to connect informal and migrant workers with job opportunities and skill training. This move aims to address the challenges posed by limited internet access, lack of proper documents, and low awareness of schemes among this vulnerable workforce.
The National Career Service platform is expected to serve as the central hub, integrating job matching, skill training, and worker credential verification. Initiatives like 'career lounges' will involve private industry in linking training to employment opportunities. However, previous attempts at unifying labour platforms faced hurdles due to weak coordination and fragmented databases.
The draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025 proposes a shift for the labour and employment ministry to act as a facilitator of employment. To succeed, it must tackle structural inequalities, bridge the digital divide, and build real institutions and support systems on the ground. Weak enforcement of labour rights and insufficient public investment in health, education, and skilling contribute to a workforce lacking capability and security.
The digital tools connecting workers with job opportunities in India are managed through collaborations involving state recruitment agencies, private recruitment firms, and government bodies. Coordination is ensured through bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding. However, challenges in criteria agreement and implementation structures highlight the importance of robust bilateral coordination and regulatory frameworks.
