History of Ministry of Labour, Government of India

1854 Public Works Department created.

Industry in India being essentially of cottage type and the factory type of industry being in a rudimentary stage, the matters related to Labour assigned to Public Works Department.

1905 - Labour and some other subjects transferred to new department, the Department of Commerce and Industry.

1919 - International Labour Organisation (ILO) established. India becomes one of the permanent, non-elective and founding members among the ten industrially important countries.

1920 - Temporary Board of Industries and Munitions set up to deal with, inter alia, matters relating to factory legislations.

1921 - Separate Department of Industries created on the recommendation of the Board.

1923 - Department of Industries reorganised and named as Department of Industries and Labour under the charge of a Member of Governor General’s Executive Council with a Secretary to Government as its administrative head.

1937 - Department of Industries and Labour bifurcated into Department of Labour and Department of Communications. Department of Labour made responsible for labour, public works, stationery and printing, mines, electricity, boilers, explosives, inter-provincial migration, factories and matters relating to ILO.

1946 - Department of Labour bifurcated into Department of Works, Mines and Power and Department of Labour.

1947 - Department redesignated as Ministry of Labour under the charge of a Minister of Cabinet Rank.

1957 - Nomenclature changed to Ministry of Labour and Employment.

1964 - New Department of Social Security created which took over the subjects of social security schemes from Ministry of Labour and Employment.

1965 - Ministry functioning in the North Block shifted to Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi from where it is functioning till date.

1966 - Department of Rehabilitation merged with the Ministry of Labour and Employment and renamed as Ministry of Labour, Employment and Rehabilitation with two Departments namely Department of Labour and Employment and Department of Rehabilitation. Subjects such as Unemployment Insurance, Employees Insurance and Provident Fund earlier dealt with by Department of Social Security transferred to Department of Labour and Employment.

1971 - Nomenclature of the Ministry changed to Labour and Rehabilitation. Department of Labour and Employment and Department of Rehabilitation continued to function separately.

1973 - Department of Rehabilitation separated and Ministry renamed as Ministry of Labour.

1974 - Work relating to Dock Workers’ Regulations and Employment Schemes transferred to Ministry of Shipping and Transport.

1979 - Work relating to Coal Mines Welfare Fund and Coal Mines Provident Fund transferred to Department of Coal.

1981 - Work relating to Emigration which was handled in Ministry of External Affairs transferred to Ministry of Labour and Division under Protector General of Emigrants created in Ministry of Labour.

1982 - Ministry with separate Departments i.e. Labour and Rehabilitation renamed as Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation.

1984 - Labour Welfare Division shifted to Jaisalmer House, Mansingh Road, New Delhi.

1985 - Nomenclature once again changed to Ministry of Labour.

1986 - Administration of Cine Workers Welfare Fund Cess Act, 1981 transferred from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to Ministry of Labour.