How Can HR Facilitate e-Shram Portal Adoption Among India's Informal Workers Despite Digital Distrust?

A recent academic work, "Prosthetics of the Indian State: The e-Shram Portal for Unorganized Workers in India" (February 2025), critiques the Union Government's e-Shram registration system for informal workers. This system is designed to consolidate millions into a digital welfare registry. However, the study questions the extent to which the technology truly empowers. Utilizing the affordance theory, the authors identify issues such as poor accessibility, lack of digital literacy, low trust, and superficial outreach, particularly among rural gig, domestic, and seasonal workers. Without human interaction, registration might seem like an abstract concept rather than a tangible lifeline.

For a significant number of unregistered workers, e-Shram has become a digital illusion: a system they are unable to log into, yet one on which their rights depend. This breeds confusion, indifference, and despair. As an HR or compliance leader, it is recognized that systems only function effectively when they are visible, comprehensible, and trusted. Technology is not inclusive if it is not accompanied by human empathy in the form of walk-ins, help desks, or local camps. In the absence of these, the portal becomes a mere facade, rather than a safety net.

Although e-Shram fulfills the policy intent to map informal labor, it cannot remain merely symbolic. Employers, platform firms, and regulators should incorporate it into onboarding, pay slips, and welfare communication. HR teams could spearhead enrollment drives, detail benefits on pay stubs, or verbally inform workers about the benefits that the ID enables. If e-Shram remains unnoticed by workers, compliance becomes a hollow gesture, rather than support.

So, how would you assist an informal worker in signing up on e-Shram if they distrust apps or computers?

Is a digital ID of any value if no one understands its benefits? How can HR make it tangible and meaningful?

To assist an informal worker in signing up on e-Shram, especially if they distrust apps or computers, it's crucial to adopt a hands-on, empathetic approach. Here are some practical steps:

1. Organize Awareness Campaigns: HR teams can conduct awareness campaigns in local languages to explain the benefits of e-Shram. Use simple language and real-life examples to make it relatable.

2. Provide Assistance: Set up help desks or local camps where workers can get assistance in signing up for e-Shram. This can help bridge the digital divide and build trust in the system.

3. Partner with Local Leaders: Collaborate with local community leaders or influencers who can vouch for the system and encourage workers to register.

As for making a digital ID tangible and meaningful, it's about communication and education. HR teams can:

1. Highlight Benefits: Clearly communicate the benefits of having an e-Shram ID during onboarding and in pay slips. This could include access to government welfare schemes, health insurance, and other benefits.

2. Regular Updates: Regularly update workers about new benefits or features added to the e-Shram system. This can be done through meetings, notice boards, or even SMS updates.

3. Encourage Usage: Encourage workers to use their e-Shram ID for relevant services. The more they use it, the more tangible it becomes.

Remember, the key is to make the technology accessible and beneficial to the workers, rather than a mere compliance requirement.

Dear CiteHR Think-tank,
The e-Shram Portal is India's National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment in August 2021 to create a centralized, Aadhaar-seeded database of unorganized sector workers for their social security and welfare benefits. The portal provides workers with a Universal Account Number (UAN) to access government schemes, connect with employment opportunities, and receive financial inclusion. Registration is free, available online and at Common Services Centres.
2. Purpose and Objectives
Centralized Database:
Creates a single, comprehensive database of unorganized workers across various sectors, including construction, domestic work, and gig work.
3. Welfare Delivery:
Facilitates the efficient delivery of social security and welfare benefits to unorganized workers.
4. Empowerment:
Aims to formalize the informal sector by providing workers with identity cards and a UAN, connecting them to various government schemes.
5. services as a robust database for Central and State governments to manage national crises like the pandemic and natural disasters.
6. unique, Aadhaar-linked account number that acts as a social security card for registered workers.
7. Workers can register for free on the e-Shram portal.
8. Integrates and provides access to numerous central and state social security schemes through state-specific micro-sites.
How to Register
Visit the Portal: Go to the official e-Shram portal at www.eshram.gov.in.
Self-Declaration: Register yourself on a self-declaration basis using your Aadhaar number and other required details, including the bank account information.
8 Access to Social Security: Provides access to various government schemes and social security benefits.
Employment Opportunities: Helps connect workers with employment opportunities and skilling programs.
Financial Inclusion: Aims to foster greater financial inclusion for unorganized workers.
Portability of Benefits: Ensures the portability of social security benefits, especially for migrant and construction workers.