Registration for unorganized works (E-Shram Portal)

Digital ID is used to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW), verified and seeded with Aadhaar. This database enables delivery of targeted welfare programs for India’s vast informal workforce.

The E-Shram portal was launched on 26th August 2021 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. It registers unorganized workers, which include construction workers, migrant workers, gig and platform workers, street vendors, domestic workers, agricultural laborers, and others who lack formal employment contracts and social security coverage. During registration, workers provide their Aadhaar number for identity verification and e-KYC, along with occupation details, skill sets, and bank account information. The system generates a unique 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) for each registered worker and issues a digital E-Shram card.

As of December 2024, the E-Shram portal has registered 304.8 million unorganized workers. This constitutes the world’s largest database of informal sector workers. The Aadhaar-verified database enables the government to identify beneficiaries and deliver welfare schemes directly to registered workers’ bank accounts using the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity. As of the latest data, 12 central government programs have been integrated with E-Shram. These include the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), which provides accidental insurance coverage, and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), which provides life insurance. It also includes the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) for old-age pension, the National Pension Scheme (NPS), health insurance schemes, skill development programs, and maternity benefits.