1.6 lakh new members added to EPFO in J&K in 7 years: MoS Karandlaje

Union Labour Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that 1.6 lakh new members have been added to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in Jammu and Kashmir over the past seven years.

Highlighting employment initiatives in the Union Territory, the minister said the Centre has launched several schemes aimed at generating jobs and promoting entrepreneurship.

“In a major achievement, a total of 1,60,000 new members were added to the EPFO in Jammu and Kashmir in seven years. Under the Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank provided loans to 3.5 lakh entrepreneurs. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the bank sanctioned loans worth Rs 14,490 crore,” she said.

Karandlaje asserted that efforts are being made to integrate the people of Jammu and Kashmir into the national mainstream. “Our objective is to support the youth of Jammu and Kashmir and provide them with new employment opportunities,” she said.

The minister also noted that nine cluster-based schemes of the Central government are currently operational in the region. She added that cricket bat manufacturing units in Anantnag and Baramulla are witnessing increased production.

“The Centre believes that Jammu and Kashmir can produce high-quality cricket bats for the country. We are also exploring export opportunities in this sector,” she said.

Addressing the issue of job security for gig and platform workers, Karandlaje said the Labour Ministry has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 12 companies employing such workers to ensure better working conditions.

“We are also working to bring the existing 25 lakh gig workers under the ambit of the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and EPFO,” she added.

Citing the latest Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reports, the minister said the estimated unemployment rate (UR) on usual status for persons aged 15 years and above declined from 4.8 per cent in 2019-20 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24 at the national level. In Jammu and Kashmir, the unemployment rate decreased from 6.7 per cent to 6.1 per cent during the same period.

She further stated that the Worker Population Ratio (WPR), which indicates employment levels on usual status for persons aged 15 years and above, increased from 50.9 per cent in 2019-20 to 58.2 per cent in 2023-24 across the country. In Jammu and Kashmir, the WPR rose from 52.5 per cent to 60.4 per cent over the same period.