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Panel Demands Higher Minimum Pension, Mandatory e-Shram for Gig Workers

A parliamentary standing committee has presented a report with wide-ranging recommendations for India's labour sector. Key proposals include a significant hike to the inadequate Rs 1,000 monthly minimum pension and making e-Shram portal registration compulsory for gig workers to ensure their social security. The committee also advocated for an increase in the national floor-level minimum wage with automatic revisions and called for a dedicated framework to eliminate child labour. These measures aim to create a more equitable and secure labour market under the new Labour Codes.

Key Points: Parliamentary Committee Recommends Pension Hike, Gig Worker Security

  • Hike minimum pension from Rs 1,000
  • Mandatory e-Shram for gig workers
  • Raise National Floor Level Minimum Wage
  • Strengthen child labour rehabilitation
3 min read

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour recommends hike in minimum pension, mandatory e-Shram registration for gig workers

A parliamentary committee calls for raising the minimum pension from Rs 1,000, mandatory e-Shram registration for gig workers, and a higher national minimum wage.

"an urgent review and enhancement of the minimum pension under EPS 1995 - Parliamentary Committee Report"

New Delhi, March 17

A parliamentary committee has recommended making the registration of gig workers on the e-Shram portal mandatory and urged the Government to define aggregator responsibilities clearly.

Basavaraj Bommai, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development, presented the Fifteenth Report on 'Demands for Grants (2026-27)' in the Lok Sabha today.

The report outlines a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening social security, ensuring fair wages, and modernising labour administration across India, according to a release.

The panel has recommended a hike in the minimum pension. Highlighting the inadequacy of current benefits, the Committee called for an urgent review and enhancement of the minimum pension under EPS 1995, which currently stands at just Rs 1,000 per month.

The report strongly advocated an upward revision of the National Floor Level Minimum Wage to reflect the rising cost of living and inflation. It further recommended a mechanism for automatic periodic revisions to protect the real wages of vulnerable workers.

Observing that many contractual workers face delays in relief following accidents, the Committee emphasized ensuring timely coverage under ESI and Provident Fund (PF) schemes and urged strict compliance monitoring by both Union and State governments.

In another significant suggestion, the Committee recommended revisiting the merger of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, suggesting the need for a dedicated institutional framework to focus specifically on the elimination and rehabilitation of child labour.

As part of its recommendations on social security for a modern economy, the Committee has recommended making the registration of gig workers on the e-Shram portal mandatory.

The release said that the panel urged the Government to define aggregator responsibilities clearly, ensuring these workers gain access to essential insurance and accident coverage.

For job creation and monitoring, the Committee called for real-time monitoring of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) to ensure the scheme meets its ambitious goal of generating 3.5 crore jobs by July 2027.

In view of expanded responsibilities under the new Labour Codes, the Labour Ministry has been urged to expedite the filling of vacancies in the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) and adopt modern monitoring technologies to prevent accidents.

To ensure smooth implementation of various schemes and the new Labour Codes, the Committee recommended the constitution of a Permanent Co-ordination and Interaction Board comprising representatives from both the Centre and the States, according to the release.

The Committee emphasised that these measures are essential to create a more equitable, secure, and disciplined labour market as the country transitions into a new regulatory framework under the four Labour Codes.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Mandatory e-Shram for gig workers is a crucial step. So many delivery partners and drivers work without any safety net. Defining aggregator responsibility is key - companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Uber must contribute to their workers' security, not just profit from them.
A
Aman W
Good recommendations on paper, but implementation is where we always fail. The coordination board between Centre and States is a good idea in theory, but will it work? We have seen how federal issues delay everything. Hope they move beyond reports to real action.
S
Sarah B
The focus on child labour is very important. Merging NCLP with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan might have diluted the specific mission. A dedicated framework is needed to not just rescue children but ensure their rehabilitation and education. This is fundamental for the nation's future.
K
Karthik V
Automatic revision of minimum wage with inflation is a game-changer if done right. Workers' salaries lose value every year with price rise. This will provide much-needed stability, especially for daily wagers and those in the unorganized sector. A long-pending reform.
N
Nikhil C
Real-time monitoring of the Viksit Bharat job scheme is essential. We hear big numbers like 3.5 crore jobs, but where is the transparency? Public should be able to see the dashboard. Accountability is missing in many such schemes. Hope this recommendation is taken seriously.

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