Functions of Labour Bureau

Labour Bureau, established in 1920, is an attached office under the Ministry of Labour & Employment and is responsible for the collection, collation and dissemination of labour, employment and price statistics. Besides, it is also a major source of primary data pertaining to several important economic indicators. These include the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers, Agricultural and Rural Labourers, Wage Rate Indices, wages, earnings, absenteeism, labour turnover, industrial relations, socio-economic conditions of workers in the organized and unorganized sectors of industry, etc. The Bureau also collects administrative statistics under the 11 Labour Acts. With the formulation of the four Labour Codes, the Bureau is also proposed to be designated as the nodal agency for collection of statistical returns under all the four Labour Codes.

Labour Bureau is discharging its functions by implementing a continuing Central Sector Scheme called the “Labour & Employment Statistical System” (LESS). The activities carried out under the scheme generate useful price, labour and employment statistics which have wide-ranging users nationally and internationally. The data provided by Bureau has immense utility in formulation of evidence based policies and plans in the field of labour and employment. The data so produced is also in great demand for research and academic purposes.

The functions/activities of Labour Bureau can be classified under five major heads:

1. Labour Intelligence

2. Labour Research

3. Monitoring and evaluation.

4. Regular Publications

5. Training

1. Labour Intelligence:

1) Construction and maintenance of various series of index numbers:

(a) Consumer Price Index Numbers (CPI) - Industrial Workers

(b) Consumer Price Index Numbers (CPI)- Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers

(d) Retail Price Indices for 31 Essential Commodities in Urban Areas.

2) Provisioning ofadministrative statistics on Absenteeism, Labour Turnover, Labour Cost, Employment, Earnings, Industrial Disputes, etc.

2. Labour Research:Conducting research studies/ surveys and bringing out publications on labour related matters in organized and unorganized sector. These include studies on Unorganised sector, SC/ST Labour, Women Workers surveys, etc.; Evaluation Studies on Implementation of Minimum Wages Act.; Occupational Wage Survey; Rural Labour Enquiry; Annual Survey of Industries; Digest of Indian Labour Research; Statistical Profile on Women Labour; Quarterly Employment Surveys; Area Frame Survey; Survey on Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna, etc.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation:This involves collection, compilation and dissemination of statistical information on various aspects of labour based on statutory and voluntary returns under different Labour Acts and surveys conducted. Details of information collected under the Acts are available on the Bureau’s website.

4. Regular Publications: Indian Labour Journal (Monthly), Indian Labour Statistics (Annual), Pocket Book of Labour Statistics (Annual) and Indian Labour Year Book (Annual) giving authoritative and up-to-date statistics on various facets of Labour and on current Labour scene in the country. Details of information collected under the Acts are available on the Bureau’s website.

5. Training: Regular training programmes are organised for

(i) Price Collectors and Price Supervisors from various States and Union Territories;

(ii) Senior Officers from States and Union Territories dealing with Labour Statistics collected under various Labour Laws (State DES and Labour Commissionerate officials)

(iii) the Primary Units furnishing the returns

(iv) IES/ISS Probationers deputed by their respective Cadre Controlling Authorities.

Further, Labour Bureau has also devised a capacity building calendar as per directions of VVGNLI. Officers and officials are regularly nominated for training programmes relating to domain and functional competencies.