North News
Chandigarh, December 30
Punjab’s Labour Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, on Monday outlined the key pro-worker initiatives implemented by the state’s Labour Department in 2024. These include the digitization of services and the distribution of financial assistance under various welfare schemes. Speaking to the media, Sond said that special camps were organized across the state to raise awareness about government schemes. He added that the department disbursed crores of rupees in financial aid to workers.
Minister Sond highlighted the department’s digitisation efforts, noting that services such as factory registrations, license grants, and welfare fund claims are now accessible online. This includes worker benefits under the Punjab Labor Welfare Board and the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
The department has also introduced reforms to simplify processes, such as streamlining registration forms and translating documents into Punjabi. Additionally, the Labour Department introduced a 14-day processing period for registration or renewal applications.
Sond also reported that the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board had won the SKOCH Award 2024 for its policy reforms. The board distributed a total of ₹102.23 crore to 67,549 workers in the 2022-2023 financial year and ₹97.29 crore to 41,155 workers in 2023-2024. During the current year, ₹19.53 crore has been disbursed among construction workers.
Moreover, the Punjab Labour Welfare Board allocated ₹15.36 crore to 5,145 beneficiaries in 2024. The department also registered over 57 lakh workers on the e-Shram portal, launched by the Indian government to track unorganised workers.
A dedicated Help Desk has been set up in various offices to assist workers with registration and welfare-related queries. The department has also expanded its digital presence with accounts on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook to keep workers informed about its activities.
