Industry interaction with Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, GoI

Chandigarh, September 5, 2024: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Employers’ Federation of India (EFI) organized Industry Interaction with Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India today at the CII Northern Region Headquarters in Chandigarh. The session witnessed participation from more than 200 industry members to gain insights into labour and employment reforms.
 
Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment Government of India highlighted the increase in employment across the country, attributing it to key growth drivers such as services, construction, transport & logistics sector, manufacturing, etc. She noted that the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has provided significant momentum to India's manufacturing sector. Similarly, the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme will incentivize employment for first timers, as well as create additional employment, and improve employability of labour force.   She further elaborated on the benefits of the newly implemented labour codes, which have positively impacted Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) through simplification and rationalization of regulations, reduction in compliance burdens, introduction of compounding of offences, and the implementation of a Single Return system along with the use of technology.
 
Dawra also noted that India is transitioning from a ~USD 3.5 trillion economy toward a USD 5 trillion and eventually USD 10 trillion economy, with aspirations to surpass USD 30 trillion by 2047. This economic expansion represents growth, investments, development, opportunities for employment and welfare, as part of this virtuous cycle. She stressed that alongside increasing employment numbers, improving the quality of jobs is critical.
 
She further added, “As we go up, the challenge is to improve not just the scale of employment but also the quality of jobs in the country. Creating quality employment is a multi-stakeholder commitment. We see a win-win situation where labour welfare and productivity go hand in hand with the growth of industry. Defining how we move forward is the challenge before us.”
 
Anurag Gupta, Chairman, CII Chandigarh and Managing Director, Usha Yarns Ltd highlighted the foundation for a productive discussion on the evolving landscape of India’s growth and current business ecosystem in India. He briefed about initiatives of CII - EFI towards strengthening industrial ecosystem in the country through the CII National Committee on Industrial Relations & Labour as well as the Industry Trade Union Dialogue Forum. He also talked about CII – Employers Federation of India’s work that spanned implementation of Labour Codes, Increasing Women Workforce Participation, Social Security coverage to the Gig & Platform Workers, etc.
 
During his address, Abhishek Gupta, Chairman, CII Punjab State and Chief Strategic Marketing, Trident Ltd highlighted that a balanced approach that prioritizes both workers well-being and business considerations leads to a more efficient, sustainable, and productive industry in the long run - which creates a win-win situation for both employers and employees, fostering growth and prosperity for all.
 
One of the highlights of the event was the interactive session focusing on Social Security measures, featuring in-depth discussions with representatives from the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). Participants explored the recent reforms introduced by these organizations, which have significantly enhanced service delivery and streamlined compliance mechanisms. The session emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration between the government and industry to ensure the successful implementation of these reforms.
 
The Employment Linked Schemes were also focus during the interaction. The industry shared various suggestions for smooth implementation of the schemes.
 
Other notable speakers included  Navesh Narula, Chairman, CII Himachal Pradesh State Council & Director, Tesna Tech Pvt Ltd who gave the closing remarks, along with  Alok Chandra, SLEA, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India and Dr Onkar Sharma,   Chief Labour Commissioner,   Ministry of Labour & Employment,  Government of India who interacted with industry on labour reforms as well as Amit Nirmal, Deputy Director General – Employment, Ministry of Labour and Employment, GoI who interacted with delegates on National Career Service Portal & Employment Linked Incentive Schemes to streamline talent sourcing across India.
 
The event concluded on a positive note, with participants expressing their appreciation for the valuable insights shared by the speakers and benefiting from the interaction, where their queries were addressed. The discussion not only clarified government policies but also deepened understanding of the challenges and opportunities in India's labour and employment sector.
 
CII extends its gratitude to all participants and looks forward to continued engagement with the Ministry of Labour & Employment to support the ongoing reforms and initiatives aimed at enhancing the Ease of Doing Business. Such interactions between Government & Industry creates an awareness of changes and steps taken to create a positive industry environment for both the workers as well as Industry.