In a move that could boost urban employment and enhance youth employability, the Ministry of Labour & Employment signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with quick commerce giant Zepto in New Delhi on Wednesday. The pact was inked in the presence of Union Minister for Labour & Employment Mansukh Mandaviya, marking another milestone in the government’s efforts to expand the reach of the National Career Service (NCS) portal.
The collaboration is expected to open new doors for young job seekers, particularly women and first-time entrants to the workforce, while simultaneously helping Zepto connect with a wider and more diverse talent pool.
Credits: The Hindu Business Line
Zepto’s Commitment: 10,000 Job Postings
Under the agreement, Zepto will provide 10,000 job postings over the course of the MoU. The roles will range from gig opportunities to full-time positions, creating what officials described as a “structured pipeline of urban employment.”
For Zepto, which has seen meteoric growth in India’s competitive quick commerce sector, the partnership is also a chance to formalize its workforce and strengthen ties with policymakers. “By connecting with NCS, we aim to provide thousands of gig and full-time opportunities, helping to empower India’s youth and contribute to the nation’s economic growth,” said Kaivalya Vohra, Co-founder of Zepto.
Building on a Growing Ecosystem of Partnerships
The Ministry of Labour & Employment has been steadily expanding collaborations with major companies over the past year. Tech and service leaders such as Amazon, Swiggy, Rapido, and Quikr Jobs have already joined hands with the ministry, collectively mobilizing nearly five lakh vacancies through the NCS platform.
The addition of Zepto to this roster reflects both the company’s scale and the government’s emphasis on sectors that are creating large volumes of jobs in urban India. Quick commerce, in particular, has emerged as a major generator of employment for delivery partners, warehouse staff, and operations professionals.
NCS: Bridging the Gap Between Employers and Job Seekers
Launched with the vision of transforming India’s labour market, the National Career Service (NCS) portal has grown into one of the country’s largest job platforms. With over 52 lakh registered employers and nearly 7.5 crore vacancies mobilized since its inception, NCS has become a one-stop solution for employment-related services, offering job-matching, career counselling, and skilling opportunities.
Highlighting its impact, Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “The National Career Service platform has emerged as a unique bridge between employers and job-seekers. This partnership with Zepto will open a new window of opportunity for young people.”
Ensuring Formalization and Security
Beyond just job creation, the government is keen to ensure that opportunities provided through the NCS ecosystem lead to greater formalization and social security coverage. Vandana Gurnani, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, stressed that the MoU with Zepto will not only boost employment numbers but also drive secure, long-term, and quality jobs.
“The partnership will pave the way for generating secure employment with social protections, while also promoting inclusivity by engaging women and first-time job seekers,” she noted.
Why This Matters for India’s Workforce
India is currently witnessing a demographic shift with a majority of its population under the age of 35. However, the challenge of connecting job seekers with sustainable opportunities continues to loom large. Platforms like NCS, bolstered by partnerships with fast-growing employers such as Zepto, aim to bridge this gap.
The emphasis on gig as well as full-time roles is particularly significant. While gig work offers flexibility and immediate earning potential, structured formal roles contribute to long-term stability and career growth. The MoU, therefore, represents a balanced approach to addressing the aspirations of India’s diverse workforce.
Credits: The Hindu
Looking Ahead
As Zepto begins rolling out its promised job postings on the NCS portal, the partnership will serve as a test case for how quick commerce companies can play a meaningful role in India’s employment story. If successful, it could pave the way for more such collaborations with other startups and tech-driven businesses.
For now, the MoU underscores the government’s proactive stance in leveraging private-sector partnerships to tackle unemployment challenges, while providing companies like Zepto with a reliable channel to source talent.
With millions of young Indians entering the job market every year, initiatives like this are not just timely—they are essential for ensuring that the country’s demographic dividend translates into long-term economic growth.
