Document text
Ministry of Labour & Employment
India Participates in 353rd Governing Body Meeting
of International Labour Organisation in Geneva
Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Labour & Employment
Leads Delegation and Makes Interventions on Key
Global Labour and Employment Issues
Secretary, L&E Holds Bilateral Discussions with
Director-General and Senior Experts of ILO and
Representatives of Other Countries
India Reaffirms its commitment to Continue to Act as
a Leading Voice on Advancing Labour Welfare,
Quality Employment and Social Justice at Global
Forum
Social Protection, Responsible Business Conduct,
Living Wages, AI and Future of Work, and Fair
Global Migration Emerge as Key Areas of India-ILO
Collaboration
Posted On: 15 MAR 2025 12:34PM by PIB Delhi
The 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is being held in Geneva,
Switzerland, from March 10 to March 20, 2025. The meeting brings together the tripartite constituents of ILO
i.e. representatives from governments, workers, and employers, to discuss crucial matters relating to the world
of work and the governance of ILO.
The Indian delegation, led by Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Government of India, made several interventions on key issues, showcasing India's achievements, learnings
and perspectives to advance the shared agenda of promoting labour welfare, social justice and quality
employment generation globally.
Second World Summit for Social Development
India extended its support to ILO on the organization of the UN led Second World Summit for Social
Development in Doha, Qatar later this year, as it aims at reinforcing the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda
for Social Development. India’s inspiring progress in promoting social justice and development was
highlighted, as India has doubled its social protection coverage to 48.8 percent, increasing the average
global social protection coverage by over 5 percent.
In this context, contribution of India’s flagship institutions and schemes such as EPFO (7.37 crore
contributing members), ESIC (14.4 crore beneficiaries), e-Shram Portal (30.6 crore registered unorganized
members), PM Jan Arogya Yojana (60 crore beneficiaries) and Targeted PDS (food security to 81.35 crore
beneficiaries) was acknowledged.
ILO Fair Migration Agenda and Action
India, as one of the largest countries of origin of migrant workers and recipient of highest remittances,
reiterated its support for greater global cooperation in promoting well-managed, skills-based migration
pathways. ILO was urged to enhance efforts towards generating global momentum for securing social
protection and rights for migrant workers through bilateral labour migration and social security agreements.
Support was extended for ILO’s proposal to convene the first Tripartite Global Forum on Migration under the
ILO based Global Coalition for Social Justice, by India as a leading partner of the Global Coalition.
Global Framework on Chemicals
India reaffirmed its commitment towards playing a leading role towards ensuring a planet free of harm from
chemicals and waste, safeguarding workers, communities and the environment. The actions being undertaken
by ILO in follow up to the Bonn Declaration were acknowledged.
Key initiatives taken by India towards safeguarding the health and safety of workers and communities
including Factories Act, 1948 and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, were
underscored. Capacity-building measures under the Viksit Bharat 2047 Action Plan towards ensuring
workplace safety in Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) units were highlighted.
The Indian delegation also held several bilateral discussions with the Director General and senior experts of
ILO, and representatives of other countries on labour and employment matters of keen interest to India.
Bilateral Discussion with Director General-ILO
Ms. Dawra met Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, the DG-ILO and congratulated him for his flagship initiative the
Global Coalition for Social Justice, which has emerged as a robust platform for global collaboration to
promote social justice. She also reiterated the need for ILO to consider in-kind benefits while assessing social
protection coverage.
This is crucial as India has commenced a State Specific Data Pooling exercise in collaboration with ILO to
get a more accurate assessment of India’s social protection coverage.
DG-ILO appreciated India for playing a leading role in the Global Coalition by championing the key
Coalition intervention “Responsible business for sustainable and inclusive societies,” and successfully
organizing the first ever “Regional Dialogue on Social Justice” at New Delhi last month. He added, “This
has inspired other Coalition countries (partners) to enhance their contribution to the Coalition’s agenda”.
Mr. Houngbo invited India to participate pro-actively in the upcoming Annual Forum on Social Justice, and
showcase best practices of Indian industry in terms of Responsible Business Conduct, payment of Living
Wages, and harnessing AI for a socially just Future of Work.
The DG also expressed his appreciation for India’s first ever voluntary financial support to ILO towards
conduct of a feasibility study on development of international reference classification of occupations by
ILO and OECD. This India led initiative will facilitate in galvanizing global employment opportunities for
Indian youth through benchmarking, and mutual recognition of skills and qualifications. Development of the
international classification is a historic commitment made by the G20 leaders under India’s G20 presidency
of 2023.
India discussed future collaborations in pipeline with ILO on shared priorities including determination and
operationalization of living wages, gig and platform workers’ welfare and decent work in value chains. The
Indian delegation included Shri Rakesh Gaur, Deputy Director, Ministry of Labour & Employment.
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Himanshu Pathak
(Release ID: 2111473)
