Bhubaneswar: As Odisha celebrates International Labour Day on 1 May, the State Labour Directorate has highlighted a series of comprehensive measures and policy reforms aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of the workforce.
Under the leadership of Labour Commissioner Shri Indramani Tripathy, the department has intensified its focus on digital transformation and direct benefit delivery to ensure that no worker is left behind in the state’s growth story.
Shri Tripathy, who also holds additional charge as the Inspector of Factories and Boilers, has been instrumental in bridging the gap between policy and implementation. Under his supervision, the department recently notified the latest revision of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), ensuring that minimum wages for unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled workers across 91 scheduled employments remain aligned with the current cost of living. This administrative oversight ensures that the base wage for an unskilled worker remains at 462 rupees per day, protecting the purchasing power of the state’s most vulnerable earners.
Shri Tripathy has emphasized the importance of this digital infrastructure in simplifying registration for the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and the Odisha Unorganised Workers Social Security Board. By removing bureaucratic hurdles, the Directorate of Labour has enabled millions of workers to access identity cards that serve as a gateway to essential financial assistance for health, education, and accidents.
The Nirman Shramik Kalyan Yojana remains a vital safety net, with Shri Tripathy’s office ensuring the smooth disbursement of educational scholarships. This year, the department expanded these benefits, providing up to 40,000 rupees annually to children of construction workers for professional courses. Additionally, the department continues to oversee the Shramik Sahayata helpline and the Labour Case Management System (LCMS), which provides a transparent platform for workers to file claims under the Minimum Wages Act and the Payment of Gratuity Act. Through these integrated efforts, Odisha is reinforcing its commitment to a secure, dignified, and equitable environment for its entire labor force.