What it does: The main responsibility of the Ministry is to protect and safeguard the interests of workers in general and those who constitute the poor, deprived and disadvantaged sections of the society, in particular, with due regard to creating a healthy work environment for higher production and productivity and to develop and coordinate vocational skill training and employment services.
Vision: Decent Working Conditions and Improved Quality of Life of Workers, Ensuring India without Child Labour and Enhancing Employability on a Sustainable Basis.
Mission: Formulating and Implementing Policies / Programmes / Schemes / Projects for Providing Social Security and Welfare, Regulating Conditions of Work, Occupational Health and Safety of Workers, Eliminating Child Labour, Promoting Harmonious Industrial Relations, Ensuring Enforcement of Labour Laws and Promoting Employment Services.
The Ministry aims to create a healthy work environment for higher production and productivity and to develop and coordinate vocational skill training and employment. However, Skill Development responsibilities, such as Industrial Training and Apprenticeship responsibilities were transferred to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship on 9 November 2014. The Ministry launched the National Career Service portal on 20 July 2015 to help bridge the gap between job providers and job seekers.
At present, there are 44 labour related statutes enacted by the Central Government dealing with minimum wages, accidental and social security benefits, occupational safety and health, conditions of employment, disciplinary action, formation of trade unions, industrial relations, etc.