The e-Shram is a scheme that functions as a national database of unorganised workers, officially called the National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). It was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on August 26, 2021, to address the lack of a comprehensive registry for the over 40 crore informal workers in India, a need highlighted by the exodus of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and a subsequent directive from the Supreme Court.
The mechanism allows unorganised workers, such as construction workers, street vendors, and gig workers, to register on the portal using their Aadhaar number on a self-declaration basis. Successful registration provides the worker with a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) and an e-Shram Card, which is valid across the country. The UAN serves as a permanent identifier to facilitate the delivery of social security benefits.
The portal connects workers to various welfare programs, including an accidental insurance cover of ₹2.0 Lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). It is integrated with the National Career Service (NCS) portal for job opportunities and the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme.
The scheme has recently been enhanced: on October 21, 2024, the Ministry launched the e-Shram–“One-Stop-Solution”, which integrates 12 central government schemes, such as Ayushman Bharat and MGNREGA, into the portal for easier access to benefits. Furthermore, on January 7, 2025, the portal became multilingual, offering services in 22 Indian languages through the Bhashini platform to improve accessibility.