Overview
- The Union government’s draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025 states that the Manusmriti and other ancient texts embed the moral basis of labour governance within India’s civilisational fabric.
- Congress leader Jairam Ramesh publicly criticized the wording and linked it to RSS ideology, arguing it undermines constitutional principles.
- The draft was released earlier in October for public feedback, and as of the latest reports no official revision or withdrawal of the cited passage has been announced.
- The policy outlines universal, portable social security through a unified account linking EPFO, ESIC, PMJAY and e-SHRAM, alongside digital formalisation and use of AI in labour governance.
- It also emphasizes implementation of occupational safety norms with risk-based inspections, gender-responsive standards and a ‘One Nation, One Workforce’ framework aligned with existing Labour Codes.