The Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched a nationwide drive to expand registration of unorganised and platform workers under the e-Shram portal, with the campaign also reaching the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The initiative, held between August 25 and September 5, 2025, aims to ensure that workers in informal sectors gain access to a range of social security benefits.
As part of this effort, the Labour Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration organised awareness and spot registration programmes in multiple locations. Sessions were conducted on August 30 at Prothrapur, on September 1 at Mohanpura, and on September 3 at Gram Panchayat Kanyapuram. A total of 182 unorganised workers successfully registered during these events, officials said.
The campaign is part of a broader national strategy to bring unorganised labour into the formal fold of welfare coverage. India’s informal sector makes up a vast proportion of its workforce, including construction labourers, street vendors, gig economy workers, domestic workers, and others who have historically lacked access to structured social security. The e-Shram portal was designed as a unified database for such workers, enabling them to receive benefits ranging from insurance and pension schemes to direct relief in times of crisis.
Officials in the islands highlighted that many unorganised workers remain outside the registration net, either due to lack of awareness or difficulty in accessing digital services. By holding spot registration camps at local community hubs, the Labour Department sought to address these challenges, helping workers enrol on the portal with assistance from trained staff.
The department has urged all workers who missed the campaign to complete their registration at the earliest. Those with access to the internet can register directly through the portal at https://register.eshram.gov.in/#/user/platform-workers-registration. Workers without digital facilities may visit the Labour Department office at Supply Line, Sri Vijaya Puram, on any working day to receive assistance. Contact numbers, 03192-230157 and 8900901130, have also been provided for clarifications and queries.
The e-Shram registration drive underscores the central government’s policy push to widen welfare safety nets. For platform workers in particular, whose numbers have risen sharply with the growth of app-based services, the scheme represents a step towards formal recognition of their economic role.
In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where a large portion of the workforce is employed in informal occupations such as fisheries, construction, tourism, and agriculture, the campaign carries added significance. Bringing these workers under a unified database will not only allow direct delivery of benefits but also help policymakers plan region-specific welfare measures.
The initiative also aligns with the government’s larger digital governance efforts, where databases like e-Shram integrate with Aadhaar and other systems to ensure transparency and reduce duplication. Officials said that the nationwide campaign seeks to bridge the awareness gap by actively reaching communities, rather than waiting for workers to approach government offices.
The registration of 182 workers during the recent awareness sessions in the islands may seem modest, but it reflects the first step in expanding outreach to hundreds of others. Authorities expect numbers to rise as word spreads and as more workers understand the direct benefits associated with enrolment.
The Labour Ministry has reiterated that unorganised workers form the backbone of India’s economy, yet their contributions often remain unrecognised. With initiatives like e-Shram, the government aims to correct this imbalance by ensuring formal support systems. In regions such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where connectivity challenges persist, decentralised campaigns like the recent one are seen as crucial for inclusion.
The campaign’s success will depend on sustained efforts, both by officials and through partnerships with local communities. By creating greater awareness and providing simple avenues for enrolment, the Ministry hopes to gradually achieve comprehensive coverage for unorganised workers across the country.
