Solution 1: Bharat Employee Registry and Mapping System
(BERMS)
India has a population of 143 crore people. In recent years, we have
surpassed China and ranked first in the list of the world's most populated
countries. But we face an extreme level of unemployment. One of the reasons is
that the Indian central and state governments do not have accurate and
up-to-date data on who is working and who is not working. This may create
confusion for the government when creating new jobs and employment policies. It
is also difficult for the government to properly implement employment rules and
regulations without accurate data. In my opinion, this is one of the biggest
loopholes in India’s system.
Every loophole and problem has a solution. However, I found a possible
solution for this issue. It is called the Bharat Employee Registry and
Mapping System (BERMS). BERMS is nothing but a centralized system where
employment-related data of all Indian citizens and foreign employees working in
India can be maintained in one place.
In the current situation of India, such a mapping system is necessary.
Since India has a population of 143 crore people, the government cannot inspect
each and every citizen regarding their employment status every year. It would
be very expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, the government needs a
systematic and cost-effective way to collect employment-related information
from its citizens.
If the government starts the Bharat Employee Registry and Mapping System
(BERMS), there will be many advantages. It will make it easier to categorize
who has a job and who needs a job. It requires a one-time investment with
relatively low recurring expenses. In return, the government can receive
accurate annual data on employment status, income levels, population trends,
and foreign workers. It can also help prevent corruption and scams.
Furthermore, it can help ensure that employees receive their rights and
protections in the workplace.
Some people may think this is a fictional idea. Others may think it is
similar to the Social Security Number and E-Verify systems in the United States
of America. Yes, BERMS has some similarities to those systems. However, the
working procedures, documentation processes, and identity verification methods
would be different. It could also help identify fake employers and fraudulent
employment records.
Some people may ask, if we already have a unique identity system like
Aadhaar, why do we need another system? This is a valid question. Aadhaar
collects biometric and demographic information, but it does not maintain
employment-related information. In addition, when a person migrates to another
state, Aadhaar does not show any employment history because of privacy
concerns.
Another issue is that there have been cases where people obtained
multiple Aadhaar cards using the same biometric information. When I first
learned about this, I was surprised. Later, I understood that during the early
stages of Aadhaar enrolment, verification systems were not as advanced as they
are today. This is another reason why a separate employment-focused system like
BERMS should be considered, while still respecting privacy concerns.
Some people may say that the government has already introduced the
e-Shram card. However, the e-Shram card is designed mainly for unorganized
workers. It is limited to a specific category of workers and does not provide a
complete employment history. It also cannot fully verify whether a person has
always been an unorganized worker. Therefore, certain gaps still remain.
For these reasons, I believe India should consider implementing the
Bharat Employee Registry and Mapping System (BERMS). Such a system could
provide accurate employment data, support better policy decisions, reduce
fraud, improve workforce management, and help the government address
unemployment more effectively.
Some people may also compare BERMS with the National
Career Service (NCS) portal. While BERMS may have some similarities with the
National Career Service, there is a major difference. The National Career
Service mainly acts as a platform for job seekers and employers. However, it
does not provide job security to citizens because it does not maintain complete
work history records, verified document facilities, employment verification
records, and several other employment-related services. Another important difference
is that registration in the National Career Service is optional. A person can
choose whether to register or not. In contrast, BERMS would be a mandatory
system for all employees and employers. This would help the government maintain
accurate and up-to-date employment data across the country. BERMS would go
beyond job matching by creating a verified employment ecosystem where
employment history, worker records, employer records, and document verification
can be maintained in a centralized system.
Let’s know about the Bharat Employee Registry and
Mapping System (BERMS) in a detailed version:
First of all, it does not come under any single
department because workers and labour fall under the Concurrent List of the
Constitution. That means both the state governments and the central government
have the right to establish labour laws. So, if the Central Government of India
has full control over the labour or employee sector, state governments can
challenge it in the Supreme Court or through the judicial system. It may not be
successful and could cause a negative relationship between the state and central
governments. Therefore, we need to think about it carefully and create a proper
system.
So, we build a system called the Bharat Employee
Registry and Mapping System (BERMS). It works as a data management system for
both the state and central governments. It does not have the power to create
new labour laws. It only manages employee-related data. It protects employee
rights and benefits. It also assists both state governments and the central
government in categorizing employee data.
Any system without supervision can become
uncontrollable. Therefore, it needs proper management. It is handled similarly
to Aadhaar, with protection against data misuse. That means the National
Employee Mapping System is a statutory body, and it works on the following
principles:
1. It follows all Acts
and Bills passed by the state and central governments.
2. It does not take
direct action against employers or employees. Instead, it hands over data and
reports to the concerned department.
3. State and central
governments cannot access the personal information of citizens, such as mark
cards, biodata, work history, or other records, without the approval of the
High Court or Supreme Court in cases involving criminal investigations.
4. It is mandatory for
all citizens of India and everyone who works in India.
5. It is mandatory for
every business, professional, corporate organization, government department,
trust, and individual who hires workers.
6. It does not collect
biometric data from citizens. However, verification is carried out through
Aadhaar.
Working procedure
of
Step
1: Registration
1.1
Employer Registration
Registration is
mandatory for all employers, including government bodies, trusts, public-sector
organizations, private companies, businesses, professionals, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), and individuals who require workers.
To register, an
employer visits the BERMS portal and creates a new employer account by
providing details such as the business name, GST number, registration details,
current address, owner’s name, representative’s name, and other relevant
information. Supporting documents must also be uploaded at this stage.
Individual
Employers — A Clarification: If the employer is an individual (rather
than a registered business), they use their own name as the business name and
must provide their Employee ID. To illustrate: a retired individual who wishes
to hire a personal car driver does not have a business firm or institution.
Without a formal system, that driver has no job security, no proof of
employment, and no salary record. BERMS addresses this by allowing individual
employers to register, thereby providing workers with proper employment
documentation.
Upon submitting
the online form, the employer receives a temporary unique Employer ID.
1.2
Employee Registration
Employee
registration follows a similar process. The employee visits the BERMS portal
and creates a new employee account, filling in personal details such as name,
father’s name, mother’s name, spouse’s name (if applicable), guardian’s name,
date of birth, address, educational qualifications with supporting uploads,
nationality, state, and Aadhaar number.
Employees must
also select one of 20 mandatory employment categories:
1.
Agriculturist
2.
Self-Employed
3.
Private
Entity Employee
4.
Professionals
5.
Government
Employee
6.
Government
Employee (Legislative Representative)
7.
Public
Sector Employee
8.
Student
9.
Non-Resident
Indian (NRI)
10. Foreign Employee with Visa
11.
Foreign
Employee without Visa
12. National Talent Utilisation Employee
13. Not Able to Work (Temporary)
14. Not Able to Work (Permanent)
15. Not Interested in Working
16. Minors
17. Retired with Pension
18. Retired without Pension
19. Sportsperson
20. Unemployed
Identity verification through Aadhaar is mandatory
for security purposes. Upon successful application, the employee receives an
immediate permanent unique Employee ID.
Step
2: Verification
2.1
Employer Verification
Verification is
mandatory for all employers. Employer documents are reviewed by a regional
BERMS office with support from the relevant state and central government
departments. If the documents are valid, the employer is issued a permanent
unique Employer ID. If verification fails, the temporary ID is suspended
and the file is forwarded to the appropriate state and central government
departments for legal action.
Special case —
Individual Employers: An individual who wishes to act as an
employer must first be verified as an employee. For example, a retired person
(Mr. X) who wishes to hire a personal assistant must first register and verify
under the “Retired” employee category. Once his employee profile is verified,
he will automatically be granted a verified employer status as well.
2.2
Employee Verification
Verification is
mandatory for all citizens, as it confirms that a person is legally eligible to
work in India. An employee must submit a verification request through the
portal so that the regional BERMS office can confirm the authenticity of their
uploaded documents.
Example: Mr. A
has obtained a permanent unique Employee ID but has not yet been verified. When
he applies for a job at XYZ Company, the company informs him that they hire
only verified personnel. He then submits a verification request through the
portal, prompting the regional office to review his documents.
For employees
whose documents have already been digitized by the government, verification may
be straightforward. However, if digitization is pending, the concerned state
registrar will request confirmation from the relevant department or university.
In the interim, the employee is granted a grace period of up to one year
to work while verification is being completed.
Fraud and
Penalties: If duplicate entries of the same document are
detected during verification, the registrar will request a physical
verification. Any person found to have submitted false information will be
treated as a fraud and may face criminal charges. If verification fails, BERMS
will serve a physical notice to the employee. Repeated failure to comply will
result in the permanent Employee ID being transferred to the BERMS blacklist
and a police summons being issued. Penalties include up to 25 years’
imprisonment, a fine of ₹25 lakh, or recovery of all government-paid salaries.
2.3
Four Types of Verification
1. Basic
Verification: Conducted via Aadhaar for Indian citizens and via
visa for foreign nationals. BERMS maintains a separate document registry to
prevent duplicate entries of the same name or number.
2. Identity
Verification: Confirms the identity of the individual. Foreign
nationals’ passports are verified through their respective embassies. Indian
citizens with passports have them verified through Passport Seva. Those without
passports may submit alternate documents such as a ration card, PAN card, voter
ID, or birth certificate.
3. Document
Verification: Covers all educational and skill certificates,
including secondary school mark sheets, pre-university mark sheets, degree
certificates, and other relevant qualifications.
4. Physical
Verification: Required when discrepancies exist between
documents — for example, when a person’s name differs across records. The
individual is called to the regional office to present supporting evidence,
such as a name-change deed or identity-correction document.
During
verification, a background check is also conducted. The verifier’s BERMS ID is
appended to the verified document, creating a permanent audit trail. If a
document is later found to be fraudulent, the verifier bears co-responsibility
and must provide a detailed explanation.
Example: Mr. L
submits a verification request. Mr. T is assigned as the verifier. If Mr. L has
submitted false information and this is discovered later, Mr. T’s permanent ID
will be linked to the fraudulent document. Multiple verifiers may be involved
in complex cases; each verifier’s ID is appended accordingly.
Step
3: Employee Mapping
Mapping
establishes a formal link between an employer and an employee. There are two
methods:
3.1
Request Sent by Employer
When an employer
wishes to hire, they conduct interviews during which candidates share only
their permanent unique Employee ID — no personal information. If the employer
wishes to view a candidate’s profile, they use the “Request Employee
Information” feature on the BERMS portal. The candidate receives a notification
and must approve the request before any information is shared. Even then, only
work experience and educational documents (in non-original format) are visible
— contact information is not shared. Screen capture and printing are disabled.
If the employer wishes to make an offer, they send a formal offer request. Upon
the candidate’s acceptance, three simultaneous entries are created: one in the
employer profile, one in the employee profile, and one in the active employment
database.
3.2
Request Sent by Employee
When a candidate
sees a job advertisement, the employer must include their unique Employer ID in
the listing. The candidate can visit the BERMS portal to review the employer’s
business details, location, and status before applying. If interested, the candidate
submits a join request. The employer then receives a notification and can view
basic details (name, age, gender, and qualification). If interested, the
employer follows the same profile-viewing and offer process as described above.
Step
4: Salary, Bonus, and Employment Updates
All
salary-related information is recorded in duplicate — once in the employer
profile and once in the employee profile. This creates verifiable evidence that
prevents fake salary disputes. Monthly entries must include bank transaction
numbers and cover salary, bonuses, provident fund contributions, insurance
details, number of days worked, and number of hours worked.
Step
5: Termination of Employment
5.1
Resignation by Employee
An employee who
wishes to resign must submit a notice period request through the portal.
Immediate resignation is permitted only under specific, defined circumstances.
5.2
Termination by Employer
The employer must
provide a proper explanation and ensure that appropriate compensation is paid
to the employee.
Inter-State
Employment
The Constitution
of India guarantees every citizen the right to live and work anywhere in the
country. However, states have historically faced challenges in verifying the
identities of migrant workers. BERMS addresses this by marking migrated
employees in its database, maintaining a record of both the origin state and
the destination state. This provides a structured mechanism to distinguish
between legal migration and illegal entry with false documentation.
Profile
Classification Lists
BERMS maintains
three separate classification lists:
1.
Black list
An individual or
employer is added to the blacklist if they are convicted of a serious offence,
expelled from the country, or are absconding from lawful punishment.
Blacklisted profiles are publicly visible for security purposes. Only a
judicial authority — such as a District Session Court, High Court, CBI Court,
or equivalent — can order the addition of an ID to the blacklist. Removal can
only be ordered by the Supreme Court. If verification fails at the registration
stage, the ID is also moved to the blacklist.
2.
Grey list
A person or
employer is placed on the grey list if they are serving a custodial sentence,
are under trial, or have been reported missing. Grey list profiles are also
publicly visible, with a clear reason displayed. Entries are added or removed
by the regional BERMS office in accordance with a court order.
3.
Brown list
A profile is
moved to the brown list upon the death of an individual or the dissolution of a
company or entity. Records are maintained with proper documentation. In cases
of erroneous addition, a regional officer may remove the profile from the brown
list, provided supporting documents are maintained and the correction is
completed within 30 days.
Authorised
Profile Access Without Employee Consent
A registrar may
access an employee’s profile without their consent only upon receipt of a valid
High Court order (or higher), with a complete copy of the order uploaded to the
system. All such access is recorded in the employee’s “Viewed By” section within
the append-only blockchain database, complete with a timestamp. This record is
permanent and cannot be deleted.
Example 1: Mr. X
is a suspected terrorist. He refuses to grant access to his BERMS profile. The
police, holding his Employee ID, approach the High Court and obtain an order.
The registrar then uses this order to lawfully access the profile.
Example 2: Mrs.
N notices in her profile’s view history that a registrar accessed her account.
She finds no corresponding court order and files a complaint. The registrar is
subsequently arrested on a non-bailable offence.
Automatic
Category Updates
1.
Date
of Birth: The system
automatically updates an employee’s category when they reach the minimum
working age or the statutory retirement age.
2.
Tenure-Based
Changes: For time-bound
positions (e.g., elected government officials), the system automatically
transitions the profile to the “Unemployed” or “Retired with Pension” category
upon expiry of the term.
Part-Time
Work
Part-time work is
permitted for individuals in the following categories: Agriculturist,
Self-Employed, Professionals, Students, and Retired without Pension. All other
categories are not eligible for part-time work under BERMS.
Advantages
of BERMS
For
Citizens
1.
Privacy
Protection: Traditional
job applications require candidates to share personal contact details and
photocopies of documents, which are frequently misused. Under BERMS, a
candidate shares only their permanent Employee ID. If the employer is a
registered entity, they send a profile-viewing request. Upon approval, the
employer can view only educational qualifications and work experience — no
contact information, no original documents, and no printable content. For
example, Ms. Bhavani can apply through an employment agency without ever
exposing her mobile number, email address, or document copies.
2.
Wage
and Benefits Protection:
BERMS’s append-only blockchain database prevents manipulation of salary
records. Every monthly salary entry must include a bank transaction number,
creating irrefutable evidence of payments made. For example, Mr. Mani, a hotel
worker, can use his BERMS records to prove the actual salary paid, countering
falsified vouchers presented by the management.
3.
Easier
Access to Bank Loans:
Employees can generate an auto-certified salary certificate directly from their
BERMS account, eliminating the need to request one from an employer. For
example, Mrs. Rekha, a domestic worker, can log in and produce a salary
certificate for her bank loan application.
4.
Eliminates
Repeated Document Verification:
Under the traditional system, employees must resubmit documents every time they
change organisations. BERMS provides a one-time, government-backed verification
that is accepted by all registered employers. For example, Mr. Dilip can switch
companies without waiting for re-verification at the new workplace.
5.
Prevents
Document Retention by Employers:
Some employers unlawfully retain employees’ original documents as a form of
security, limiting their career mobility. Since BERMS conducts government-side
verification, employees are never required to hand over original documents to
any employer. For example, Ms. Latha, who has served her notice period, cannot
be held back by XYZ Company’s refusal to return her certificates.
For
Employers
1.
Instant
Document Authenticity: All
employee profiles carry government-verified credentials, eliminating the need
for employers to conduct their own document checks. For example, Mani Mukuta
Pvt. Ltd., receiving over 10,000 applications for 10 data analyst positions,
can instantly filter for verified candidates.
2.
Protection
Against False Allegations:
Since salary transaction records are stored in both the employer and employee
profiles, employers have permanent evidence of all payments made, protecting
them against false claims years later.
3.
Simplified
Compliance Reporting:
Because salary, bonus, and other payment data are entered monthly, employers do
not need to separately submit evidence of compliance to government authorities.
4.
Prevention
of Abrupt Resignations: An
employee cannot switch employers without completing the notice period and
obtaining the employer’s approval within the system. The transition is
automatic upon completion of the notice period.
5.
Complete
Elimination of Moonlighting:
BERMS enforces a one-employee, one-job policy. An employee cannot be
simultaneously registered with two employers, eliminating moonlighting
entirely.
6.
Reliable
Work History: Work history
entries from previous employers are immutable and cannot be altered by the
employee, providing a genuinely reliable employment record.
For Government
1.
Detection
of Illegal Migrants: BERMS
makes it significantly more difficult for illegal migrants to secure formal
employment or start a business, as both require verified IDs.
2.
Identifying
Those in Need of Assistance:
Pre-defined employment categories make it straightforward to identify citizens
who are unable to work and may require government support.
3.
Effective
Workforce Management: The
one-employee, one-job policy enables better tracking and distribution of the
national workforce.
4.
Accurate
Unemployment Data: The
system provides a real-time count of unemployed citizens, enabling more
targeted job creation policies.
5.
Continuous
Population Census: Since
BERMS registration is mandatory for all citizens, it effectively functions as a
continuous, real-time census, removing the need for a decennial census
exercise.
6.
Precision
in Scheme Delivery:
Governments can identify the exact target group for any welfare scheme without
manual verification. For example, the Kerala government can instantly identify
all self-employed individuals to extend a free healthcare scheme, and the Uttar
Pradesh government can identify working women to offer free bus travel.
7.
Combating
Forged Certificates: The
centralised verification system makes it extremely difficult for forged or
duplicated certificates to pass undetected across states.
Disadvantage
of BERMS
The principal
disadvantage of BERMS is its dependence on state-level cooperation. If a state
refuses to share document information or participate in the system, citizens of
that state will be unable to obtain verification, effectively excluding them
from the formal job market in BERMS-compliant regions. For example, if Punjab
were not to participate, residents and former students of Punjab — including
those who have since relocated to other states such as Madhya Pradesh — could
face significant employment barriers.
Addressing
Common Criticisms and Misconceptions
1.
"The
government will use this to deny schemes to citizens." This is false. BERMS is designed precisely
to ensure that government aid reaches those who genuinely need it, without the
delays and corruption inherent in traditional manual processes.
2.
"The
central government will take full control without state consent." Incorrect. BERMS operates under joint
state and central government control, and both authorities must be consulted.
3.
"It
will increase inter-state conflict." Unfounded. Verification of a citizen’s documents is the
responsibility of the state in which the documents were issued, not a matter of
inter-state dispute.
4.
"The
government will increase taxes based on salary data." Incorrect. Tax policy is determined by
existing legislation. BERMS merely ensures that those who are already liable
under current law cannot evade their obligations.
5.
"State
governments will expel migrant workers." This is misleading. The Constitution guarantees freedom of
movement and employment across India. BERMS only makes it more difficult for
individuals without valid documentation to operate informally.
6.
"The
government can arbitrarily blacklist anyone." This is not possible. Addition to the
blacklist requires a court order from a recognised judicial authority. No
government official can add an ID to the blacklist unilaterally.
7.
"We
already have Digi Locker and Aadhaar." Aadhaar stores biometric information, which BERMS does not.
Digi Locker shares some functionality with BERMS; however, it includes banking
statements, passports, and financial records, which raises broader privacy
concerns. Additionally, Digi Locker does not provide the employment-mapping,
salary-tracking, or employer-employee linkage features that BERMS offers.
Crucially, some state-issued IDs in DigiLocker have been granted to individuals
who have not been fully verified, a gap that BERMS’s birth-to-present
verification process closes.
8.
"We
already have e-Shram and National Career Services." e-Shram covers only the unorganised sector
and does not provide salary security or payment verification. BERMS is a
comprehensive system covering all employment categories.
9.
"BERMS
is vulnerable to data theft and privacy violations." BERMS uses an append-only blockchain
database with individual encryption for each record. Even if the database were
compromised, the data would be computationally infeasible to decrypt. The
append-only nature of the database also ensures that no historical record can
be altered or erased.
Estimated
Cost
Server
infrastructure costs will be borne by the Bharat Integrated National Server.
Verification process costs will be shared equally between the state and central
governments in a 1:1 ratio.
Implementation
Phases
Phase 1 (first year): Registration and
Verification
Phase 2 (Second year): Mandatory adoption
across all employment sectors including housekeeping and unsecured worker also.
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