Telegraph India: New Delhi: Thursday, 10th
September 2026.
RTI reply shows two nationwide studies launched in 2021 remain under ministry consideration, prompting concern over policymaking and emerging work categories
Labour economists have criticised the delay in the release of survey reports on the working conditions of migrant and domestic workers and their estimated numbers, an exercise launched by the Centre five years ago.
In 2021, the Union labour ministry announced that it would conduct pan-India surveys on migrant workers, domestic workers, employment generated by professionals and the transport sector, and the All-India quarterly establishment-based employment survey (AQEES).
Data accessed by The Telegraph through the RTI Act suggests that the labour bureau, a wing under the labour ministry, only carried out surveys on migrant workers, domestic workers and eight rounds of AQEES.
“Reports of All-India survey on migrant workers and All-India survey on domestic workers are still under consideration in the ministry,” the RTI reply said.
The twin surveys kicked off in November 2021, with the labour bureau collecting data from 1.5 lakh households for each. Both the surveys were supposed to be completed within a year.
Labour economist K.R. Shyam Sundar, adjunct professor at MDI Gurgaon, lamented the delay in the release of reports.
“The country is waiting for data on migrant and domestic workers, such as their socio-economic condition, safety at workplaces and nature of engagement. In a democracy, data should flow freely. Otherwise, it will adversely affect scientific data collection and policymaking,” Sundar said.
He said the government took credit for the data on registered unorganised sector workers on its e-shram portal. However, mere registration of workers does not provide information on household characteristics and emerging categories of workers.
“So far, workers are classified as regular workers, casual workers and self-employed. But we see several new types of workers who do not fit into the traditional categories. For example, the gig and platform workers cannot be placed in any of the three categories. So surveys are important to understand the nature of emerging work and broaden the existing categories,” Sundar said.
RTI reply shows two nationwide studies launched in 2021 remain under ministry consideration, prompting concern over policymaking and emerging work categories
Labour economists have criticised the delay in the release of survey reports on the working conditions of migrant and domestic workers and their estimated numbers, an exercise launched by the Centre five years ago.
In 2021, the Union labour ministry announced that it would conduct pan-India surveys on migrant workers, domestic workers, employment generated by professionals and the transport sector, and the All-India quarterly establishment-based employment survey (AQEES).
Data accessed by The Telegraph through the RTI Act suggests that the labour bureau, a wing under the labour ministry, only carried out surveys on migrant workers, domestic workers and eight rounds of AQEES.
“Reports of All-India survey on migrant workers and All-India survey on domestic workers are still under consideration in the ministry,” the RTI reply said.
The twin surveys kicked off in November 2021, with the labour bureau collecting data from 1.5 lakh households for each. Both the surveys were supposed to be completed within a year.
Labour economist K.R. Shyam Sundar, adjunct professor at MDI Gurgaon, lamented the delay in the release of reports.
“The country is waiting for data on migrant and domestic workers, such as their socio-economic condition, safety at workplaces and nature of engagement. In a democracy, data should flow freely. Otherwise, it will adversely affect scientific data collection and policymaking,” Sundar said.
He said the government took credit for the data on registered unorganised sector workers on its e-shram portal. However, mere registration of workers does not provide information on household characteristics and emerging categories of workers.
“So far, workers are classified as regular workers, casual workers and self-employed. But we see several new types of workers who do not fit into the traditional categories. For example, the gig and platform workers cannot be placed in any of the three categories. So surveys are important to understand the nature of emerging work and broaden the existing categories,” Sundar said.
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