Minister Subhash Lists Measures for Labour Welfare, Safety
Subhash said online modules have been introduced for trade union registration, welfare claims, grievance redressal, labour registration, and child labour monitoring
VIJAYAWADA: Minister for labour, factories, boilers and insurance medical services Vasamsetti Subhash on Friday said the state government has undertaken wide-ranging measures to ensure workplace safety, labour welfare, and healthcare delivery over the past two years.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, he underlined that the NDA alliance government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had revived several welfare measures that had remained inactive in recent years and strengthened social security mechanisms for workers.
Subhash said welfare schemes for construction workers have been restored from March 1, 2026. The government is providing ₹20,000 each towards marriage assistance, maternity benefits, and funeral expenses, besides ₹60,000 as natural death assistance through Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfers.
“Proposals to enhance these benefits are under consideration,” the minister disclosed.
To improve facilities for unorganised workers, the government has launched a programme to establish 25 Integrated Labour Amenities Complexes (ILACs) across the state. The centres will provide employment information, worker registration, welfare awareness, skill training, sanitation facilities, drinking water, and Wi-Fi facilities. The initiative will eventually be expanded to all assembly constituencies.
Subhash said online modules have been introduced for trade union registration, welfare claims, grievance redressal, labour registration, and child labour monitoring. Services are being delivered through the Mana Mitra WhatsApp platform.
According to the minister, 88.67 lakh unorganised workers have registered on the e-Shram portal, while 18.26 lakh workers have enrolled themselves with the AP Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. During 2024–26, the government collected ₹1,408.58 crore as labour welfare cess for welfare, social security, and skill development programmes.
Subhash underlined that skill development programmes that had been suspended between 2019 and 2024 have been revived, with a target of training 85,000 beneficiaries in 41 trades. The government has initiated measures for implementation of new Labour Codes. It has introduced reforms, including lifetime registration for shops and establishments, permission for women to work night shifts with safeguards, and round-the-clock operations in major urban centres.
The minister said the Kera Suraksha insurance scheme has been launched for coconut workers, providing insurance coverage of up to ₹7 lakh. The government has proposed preventive health screening for 7.85 lakh construction workers.
Subhash said labour authorities have rescued 1,399 child labourers and secured compensation and wage recoveries in several cases. ESI services now cover 15.32 lakh insured workers and nearly 60 lakh beneficiaries.
He pointed out that Tirupati ESI Hospital has been upgraded into a 100-bed facility with sanction of additional posts. 30 new ESI dispensaries are being planned and proposals have been submitted for establishing ESIC medical colleges in Visakhapatnam and Amaravati.
