Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, May 30: In a significant step towards strengthening professional capacity in labour governance, social security administration, and regulatory compliance, the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS), Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), in collaboration with Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar, launched the inaugural batch of the Executive Development Programme on "Labour Laws and Social Security Compliance (EPFO at Core)" during an online inaugural session held on 29 May 2026.
The Programme marks an important milestone in professional legal education and industry-oriented capacity building at a time when India's labour and social security landscape is undergoing significant transformation. Designed as a practice-oriented executive learning initiative, it seeks to bridge the gap between legal understanding, regulatory compliance, and real-world implementation, equipping professionals to navigate the increasingly complex compliance environment emerging in the post-Labour Codes era.
The inaugural session was graced by Shri Ramesh Krishnamurthi, Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC), EPFO, and attended by Shri Kumar Rohit, Director, PDUNASS; Prof. (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar, Director, GNLU; Dr. Nitin Malik, Registrar, GNLU; senior EPFO officers, faculty members, industry leaders, and participants from across the country.
The Programme has generated strong national interest among employers, HR professionals, labour law practitioners, compliance officers, academicians, and corporate leaders. Against the originally planned intake of 60 participants, the inaugural batch enrolled 66 participants, making it oversubscribed even before commencement. Continued demand has prompted consideration of a second batch.
Addressing participants, Shri Ramesh Krishnamurthi noted that India is witnessing a transformative phase in labour governance and social security administration. He observed that the Labour Codes, particularly the Code on Social Security, 2020, together with rapid digitization, have increased the need for professionals who can combine legal understanding with practical implementation capabilities.
He emphasised that compliance today extends beyond statutory obligations and has become a cornerstone of responsible governance, ethical employment practices, institutional credibility, and sustainable organisational growth. Organisations that invest in robust compliance frameworks, he said, contribute not only to worker welfare and social protection but also to trust, transparency, productivity, and industrial harmony.
Highlighting EPFO's transformation, he referred to initiatives such as Aadhaar-enabled services, Universal Account Number (UAN) integration, digital compliance platforms, online service delivery mechanisms, and technology-driven governance reforms. He expressed confidence that the Programme would serve as an important platform for professional learning by bringing together government, academia, and industry to address emerging compliance challenges and opportunities.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kumar Rohit, Director, PDUNASS, described the launch as a defining milestone for the National Academy of Social Security and the culmination of a shared vision developed through sustained collaboration between PDUNASS and GNLU.
Recalling the genesis of the initiative, he noted that the Programme emerged from the recognition that India's evolving labour and social security ecosystem required a structured professional platform capable of bridging the longstanding gap between legal knowledge and practical implementation. He observed that changing workforce structures, digital governance systems, and increasing expectations of transparency and accountability demand professionals who can translate regulatory requirements into effective workplace systems and governance practices. |
