Introduction:
Technology has long served as a strategic tool for nations to assert their global presence. In recent years, it has revolutionized business operations in the industrial sector by addressing and mitigating burdens such as endless paperwork, delayed assistance, inaccessibility, and inefficient services. By doing so, it has broken down various problems at root level and had it resolved. The year 2025 marked significant progress in digitizing industrial laws through tech integration.
There were several schemes and advancements brought out to address critical areas like employment generation, efficient and timely assistance. They had as well consolidated labor acts and schemes into a unified platform. This one-stop solution promotes inclusive hiring, seamlessly connecting job seekers with employers while simplifying compliance processes. Notably, these changes empowered unorganized workers by enhancing awareness of their rights and entitlements under the relevant codes. 2025 witnessed changes which were brought in through the Employment Provident Fund Organisation, Shram Suvidha Portal, E-Shram, National Career Services and Employee State Insurance Corporation, and are discussed in detail throughout the article.
Employment Provident Fund Organisation:
(Highlights Quick and Efficient Assistance)
The Employment Provident Fund Organisation has had the auto-settlement limit been increased from 1 lakh to 5 lakh. This auto-settlement method in itself helps its members to receive faster response to their situation. And during dire times, a quick response is much needed rather than endless paperwork. This system is being extended to accommodate a variety of advanced claims, including healthcare, education, and other livelihood requirements. The digitalization aspect involved has greatly benefitted the users and has created a sense of reliability because of it’s transperancy working model. The success of the initiative has been reflected in the first two and half and months of 2025-2026, auto-settling more than 76.52 lakh claims[1] and it constituting about 70% of all advance claims settled.[2]
The numbers showcase the reach of the involvement of technology has created. The ground problem being the services not reaching on time as well as inefficient services, has thus been solved with the involvement of auto-settlement claims. As the government embodies and leverages the use of technology, it has made the process much simpler for the members to access and benefit from the scheme. The effect has sped up the claim disbursal process, and the number of grievances have relatively come down as well. The claims under the new limit are settled within 72 hours, being one of their remarkable features. The progress in 2025, by increasing the limit to 5 Lakh, has clearly depicted the commitment of the Government. As they have taken up measures to resolve matters smoothly and make the industrial laws to have better access to. For the FY 2024-25 alone, it has processed 2.34 crore claims via auto-settlement, a 161% increase over the previous year[3]
Shram Suvidha Portal:
( A single portal enforcing transparancy and accountability)
The Shram Suvidha Portal is a unified government initiative that seeks to streamline business transactions, reduce transaction costs, and simplify labor law compliance. With uniform return form, a unique Labour Identification Number (LIN) for businesses, and mandatory online inspection reports, it provides a sole online window for registration, reporting, and inspection. The maintenance and the development of portal is done by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
Labour law has always been a handful to comply with, being a bunch split across the platter. The Shram Suvidha Portal has resolved this exact issue by developing a single portal that complies every act and meets all compliance requirements. The action taken by the Ministry of Labour & Employment has eased various concerns of stakeholders by providing a Web Portal for Online Registration of units, Reporting of inspections to submissions of Annual Returns. The compilation of various regulations specified by the labour laws, have been incredible of use for the users. This also helps in the monitoring of Labour Inspections based on key performance indices. This has as well created transparency in labour inspection and monitoring.
Each establishment is given a common Unique Labour Identification Number (Shram Pehchan Sankhya) that is used by the integrated portal. After registering on the website, employers are assigned a Labour Identification Number (LIN). The portal is updated on a regular basis with inspection data uploaded by enforcement agencies. Employers can submit a single consolidated annual return through the web portal. It makes it possible for inspecting officials to submit harmonized inspection reports online. The portal actively supports the development of accountability and transparency in labor inspections as well as the simplification of business regulations.[4] A web-based inspection has been introduced as a common provision to various codes and schemes, to uphold the same characteristics.[5]
For members of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), a social security program established by the Indian government in accordance with the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, the government has introduced the Universal Account Number (UAN). For beneficiary employees, the UAN enables account aggregation and real-time access to provident fund balances. It is applicable nationwide and stays portable for the duration of members’ employment.[6]
E-Shram:
(One-stop solution for the unorganized workers)
The gig economy in India is in it’s advance pace, with huge number of platform workers. Hence regulating them and providing a platform for them to benefit from the available schemes, has been prioratised by the Government. Drawing inspiration from the Shram Suvidha Portal, compilation of labour compliances, was one of the effective moves taken by them, thus following the same strategy E-Shram portal was formed with compilation of all the labour welfare schemes.
E-Shram is developed as a one-stop solution to all the unorganized workers including the gig and platform workers. 14 Different schemes of Central Ministries/Departments have been mapped as of now. The portal is integrated with various other schemes as well, one of the prominent ones are the, National Career Service (NCS), Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and so on. And as each state laws and schemes differs, the same initiative proposes to being customizable to each state.
In September 2024, The Union Labour Minister mandated the registeration of gig workers of major platforms to be registered. By mandating the workers from the platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy it gives each delivery staff an universal account number, which acts as a key to open the access to social security benefits accident insurance, and, eventually, pension schemes. This mandate arose from the major drawback of the 10-minute delivery, which thus has led this initiate with the help of technology. As on 5th August 2025, over 30.98 crore unorganised workers had already registered on e-Shram portal.
And on Jan 2025 Microsites were launched by Ministry of Labour and Employmentfor each state to have a customizable portal for their own needs simplifying the big chunks of works into smaller pieces, making it easier to provide State-specific analytics. Government has utilized the tech to display their commitment towards inclusive and equitable labour welfare, by onboardinging platform aggregators. As of now 12 platform aggregators have been onboarded on platform aggregator module including Zomato, Blinkit, Urban Company, Uber, Ola, Amazon, Swiggy, Rapido, Zepto, Ecom Express and Uncle Delivery.[7] A separate committee had been formed to regulate and provide relief to the existing problems faced by the unorganized workers. And through this portal, they gain access to what has been rightfully entitled to them and exercise the same.
Via a notification dated September 16, 2024, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has taken a step towards safeguarding social security by introducing a Standard Operating Procedure. It aims to integrate aggregators into the E-Shram Portal.[8] The Union Minister of Labour and Employment had conducted a meeting emphasizing the need to register gig and platform workers under the portal. Followed to the meeting, it gave emergence to a directive that was released by the Press Bureau of India.[9]
National Career Service 2025
(Bridging the gap between the talent and employment)
The National Career Service 2025 is essential to workforce mobilization, with over 1.75 crore active job seekers and over 40 lakh registered employers. Following the E-Shram facility, the aggregators had been urged to post their openings in the NCS National Career Services. Not just finding out opportunities but for as well as upskilling one’s skill set as well as training courses. It has a combination of both the private and public sector employment opportunities. Over 54.27 lakh employers and over 6.02 crore job seekers (including women, SC/ST, and EWS categories) had registered on the NCS portal since its launch as of November 20, 2025.[10] This achievement is the result of several Memorandums of Understanding, including important partnerships with Microsoft for AI skills training and hiring, APNA for more than 10 lakh jobs annually, Rapido for logistics, and Zepto to improve youth opportunities. The employment market is largely influenced by the job opportunity and MOU’s such as these creates an revolusion in terms of accessibility.
With integrations with My Bharat, E-Shram, SIDH, MEA’s eMigrate portal, and numerous private platforms, the NCS platform keeps getting stronger every day. The collaboration reflects the Ministry’s positive take on employment facilitation and has its characteristics of highlight as innovation, inclusivity and impact.
MOU with RAPIDO: The MOU with Rapido made sure that Rapido posted opportunities in the website, whenever an opening arises and conduct the recruitment through the portal. And since it being API, it ensures real time openings and application tracking system. Thus, making sure that the entire process is conducted effortlessly and without any disruption as well as promoting digital awareness. It as well supports women and youth in seeking work.Highlights Gender inclusivity through one of the options of “Pink” and had received praises for the introduction of the same.
MOU with ZEPTO: This Memorandum of Understanding had connected the one seeking for job as well as people recruiting, effortlessly. During the agreement period, the MOU made sure that Zepto would offer 10,000 job opportunities. And since the MOU, there has been with over 52 lakh registered employers and 7.5 crore vacancies being mobilized. The integration of AI, would only benefit and make the portal even more efficient. The partnership also aims in upskilling the gig workers through the registeration under E-shram as well as sequrity schemes. The Ministry has previously entered into similar MoUs with leading organizations such as Amazon, Swiggy, Rapido, and Quikr Jobs, which have together mobilized nearly five lakh vacancies on the NCS portal, thus improving employment opportunities for the youth of the countryv.[11]
MOU with FoundIT: The Memorandum of Understanding between FoundIt and the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE), had brought about several advantages, especially for people with disabilities. It not only gives the listing of opportunities within India, but has its horizon to broaden SouthEast Asia and Middle East. By giving NCS Portal registrants, access to positions in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, it broadens employment prospects. And the APIs give seamless access while integrating job opportunities into the portal. In order to improve opportunities, particularly for disabled job seekers, FoundIt will seamlessly integrate job listings onto the NCS Portal via APIs, aggregating employer demands across formal and informal sectors from these regions. In order to guarantee fair and barrier-free hiring procedures, the partnership encourages inclusive hiring practices, giving women and people with disabilities priority. This also gives an access to diverse talent group. With the help of Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE’s) database linkage and a flexible online-offline technology interface, FoundIt also leverages NCS’s diverse talent pool, highlighting women and candidates with disabilities.[12]
MOU with APNA: The MoU with APNA enhances NCS by expanding job access for seekers across metro and non-metro cities, enabling seamless integration of listings to connect employers with formal and informal sector talent, while promoting inclusive hiring for women and persons with disabilities through fair processes. APNA gains entry to NCS’s vast candidate pool, supported by MoLE’s user-friendly online-offline interface, ultimately fortifying a dynamic job market that aids diverse backgrounds—this collaboration bridges talent-employment gaps, spurring India’s economic growth and workforce advancement. In a landmark initiative for youth employment, MoLE has partnered with leading platform APNA to deliver over 10 lakh annual jobs via the NCS Portal, amplifying domestic opportunities. As a core bridge between seekers and employers, with over 40 lakh registered firms and 4.40 crore vacancies since launch the portal sustains nearly 10 lakh active openings, ensuring robust opportunity flow.[13]
The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) has signed an MoU with APNA, with the goal to bring about various opportunities to the youth with respect to employment field. And this would bring about 10 akh job prospects annually to the NCS portal. The collaboration in itself being a connecting line between talent and employment.
Most of the MOU reflects how the NCS operates, it prioritises inclusive hiring, upskilling the gig workers as well as make sure that right real time opportunities reach the apt users, such that both job seekers as well as the the people recruiting get benefitted from the effective response. And no matter the background, it offers to help find a suitable opening. By leveraging this tool (NCS) and optimizing it to the highest, the ministry has improved the employment outcomes to a certain extent as well as contribute towards a fostering workforce. [14]
Employee State Insurance Corporation; (SPREE)
(One-time opportunity for welfare benefits)
2025 also witnessed a heavy shift towards the expansion of social security. The Employee State Insurance Corporation emerged as a main focal point by introducing initiatives such as SPREE (Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employee) 2025 for formal workers. Registration under the scheme provides medical care, with presence of 1500 dispensaries and 165 hospitals under the ESIC, as well as provides benefits arising out of the 2025 code. It waives the requirement for historical records, inspections, previous contributions, interest, and penalties. This enables employers and employees to access their rightful benefits without any hindrances. Being a special initiative under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act, SPREE provides a one-time opportunity for unregistered employers and employees, including contractual and temporary employees, to become a part of the ESI network without any claims of past dues or inspections. [15]
In order to promote voluntary compliance, the program simplifies registration and clears worries about retroactive penalties, as that aspect is completely eliminated. In the past, failing to register resulted in retrospective liabilities and legal actions. But by removing these obstacles, SPREE 2025 aims to improve access to social security and health benefits by bringing more employers and employees into the ESI framework.
SPREE 2025 supports a social security system that is more accessible. By encouraging employers to comply and extending the ESI Act to a wider workforce, it supports the goal of a welfare-oriented labor policy framework. [16]
Conclusion:
The Year-End Review by the Ministry of Labour and Employment places the year 2025 as a critical year for the future of the labour ecosystem in India, with the initiation of bringing in legislative updates, technological development, and inclusive workforce policies to future proof employment. The major highlights include India moving to rank 2 in the global list of social protection coverage at 64.3%; the digital transformation of EPFO with auto-settlements up to ₹5 lakh, a common pension system, and FAT-enabled UAN activation; ESIC’s expansion to 713 districts with hospital beds increasing to 87,715 in FY 2024-25; 9,785 job fairs resulting in 1.58 lakh appointments through the NCS Portal; and e-Shram registering over 31.42 crores, including a new module for platform workers with 14 aggregators onboarded, as a result of the digitalization of industrial law. These reflect the growth and commitment India has taken to ease out the process and making a reformative stance in the industrial sector through Digitalisation.[17]
In 2025, digitalization initiatives targeting industrial and labor issues introduced transformative reforms at the foundational level. Incorporating technology into legal frameworks emphasized centralization, accessibility, inclusivity, streamlined compliance, timely dispute resolution, and reduced ambiguities. The benefits are clearly visible through the statistical improvements that was mentioned under each initiative.
[1] Ministry of Labour and Employment “EPFO Enhances Auto-Settlement Limit for Advance Claims to ₹5 Lakhs, Ensuring Faster Access to Funds for Members” (PIB Delhi)<https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_docs/PDFs/EPFO_PRESS_RELEASES/PressRelease_24062025.pdf>
[2] Ministry of Labour and Employment “EPFO Enhances Auto-Settlement Limit for Advance Claims to ₹5 Lakhs, Ensuring Faster Access to Funds for Members” (PIB Delhi)<https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_docs/PDFs/EPFO_PRESS_RELEASES/PressRelease_24062025.pdf>
[3] IHRC “EPFO ENHANCES AUTO SETTLEMENT LIMIT FOR ADVANCE CLAIMS TO 5 LAKHS<“https://ihrcgroup.com/blog/EPFO-Enhances-Auto-Settlement-24th-June-2025#:~:text=Resource,15%2C%202026%20January%2010%2C%202026>
[4] Ministry of Labour and Employment, Shram Suvidha (One-Stop-Shop for Labour Law Compliance)<https://shramsuvidha.gov.in/aboutUs.action#:~:text=This%20portal%20facilitate%20ease%20of,based%20on%20key%20performance%20indices.>
[5] Ministry of Labour & Employment “Year End Review 2025 – Ministry of Labour & Employment”(PIB Delhi)<https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2209767®=3&lang=2>
[6]NOERR “Recent labour reforms in India”< https://www.noerr.com/en/insights/reformen-im-indischen-arbeitsrecht>
[7] Ministry of Labour and Employment “e-SHRAM PLATFORM ENHANCEMENTS”(PIB Delhi)<https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2155172®=3&lang=2>
[8] Nishith Desai Associates “Registration of gig workers and platform aggregators on e-shram portal” (Oct 08, 2024)<https://www.nishithdesai.com/research-and-articles/hotline/hr-law-hotline/registration-of-gig-workers-and-platform-aggregators-on-e-shram-portal-15152>
[9] Ministry of Labour and Employemnt “Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs Meeting with Aggregators for Providing Social Security to Gig and Platform Workers”(PIB Delhi) <https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2056138>
[10] Ministry of Labour & Employment “National Career Service (NCS) Portal”<https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2198745®=3&lang=1>
[11] GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT “NCS Monthly E-Newspaper)<https://dge.gov.in/dge/sites/default/files/2025-11/NCS_E-Newsletter_Sep_2025.pdf>
[12] Ministry of Labour & Employment, “Ministry of Labour & Employment and FoundIt Signs MoU in Presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya”(PIB Delhi)<https://dge.gov.in/dge/sites/default/files/2025-02/pib2101338_0_0.pdf>
[13] Ministry of Labour & Employment”Ministry of Labour & Employment Signs MoU with APNA to Boost Job Opportunities”(PIB Delhi)<https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2104448®=3&lang=2>
[14] Ministry of Labour and Employment “Ministry of Labour & Employment signs MoU with Rapido in Presence of Union Ministers Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje”<https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2125275®=3&lang=2>
[15] Srishti Sinha, “Health Services through Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) – 1952” <https://www.impriindia.com/insights/health-services-state-insurance-esic/#:~:text=The%20ESIC%20has%20launched%20SPREE,crore%20beneficiaries%20as%20of%202024.>
[16] Ministry of Labour and Employment, “ESIC Launches SPREE 2025 to Expand Social Security Coverage The scheme is active from 1st July to 31st December 2025″(PIB Hyderabad)<https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2145503®=3&lang=2>
[17] Ministry of Labour and Employment, “Year End Review 2025 – Ministry of Labour & Employment”(PIB Delhi) <https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2209767®=3&lang=1#:~:text=e%2DShram%20Crosses%2031.42%20Crore,Launched%20with%2014%20Aggregators%20Onboarded&text=In%20a%20historic%20decision%2C%20the,labour%20codes%20are%20given%20below>
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