Budget 2018-19 National Employment Policy, Narendra Modi to Crack the Job Code: Government may announce India’s first National Employment Policy in the budget 2018.
Budget 2018-19 is an opportunity for the Modi Government to address issues. Since this could be Modi’s last full Budget before the next Lok Sabha elections, it is likely to address key issues. While the government is expected to address farm distress in the Budget, the next big issue could be jobs.
There are indications that the government will make major announcement regarding jobs. To start delivering on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promises, the government is planning to introduce the country’s first National Employment Policy (NEP) that will outline a comprehensive road map for creation of quality jobs across sectors through economic, social and labour policy interventions.
National Employment Policy will lay out a roadmap for sector-wise Job creation.
It will suggest interventions at labour related policies to ensure social security for all.
Policy will assess job potential in each sector and set targets.
Earlier, “We will come out with a new National Employment Policy in the next five-six months after holding consultations with various ministries, including micro, small and medium enterprises, heavy industries, electronics and information technology, health, education, textiles and more importantly, commerce,” Mr. Dattatreya, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour and Employment, told The Hindu in an interview. “
Job creation is a major challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He promised to create 10 million jobs a year during his campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. While nearly 10 million Indians enter the workforce every year, emerging technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence are expected to take away jobs in several sectors.
Since most of the jobs being created are in the informal sector, the policy would seek to reverse this trend. About 90% of workers are engaged in informal employment, not covered by any social security law and most likely not getting the minimum wage.
National Employment Policy hopes to address the issue of providing jobs to the 10 million plus youth joining the country’s workforce every year while ensuring that most of the job creation takes place in the formal sector.