Geneva: India reaffirmed its commitment to labour welfare, social justice, and employment generation at the 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), currently underway in Geneva from March 10 to March 20, 2025. The Indian delegation, led by Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, actively participated in key discussions, highlighting the country’s achievements and contributions to global labour standards.
During the deliberations, India extended its support to the UN-led Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, later this year. India’s efforts in expanding social protection coverage to 48.8% of its population—surpassing the global average by over 5%—were prominently highlighted. The delegation also underscored flagship welfare schemes such as EPFO (7.37 crore contributors), ESIC (14.4 crore beneficiaries), e-Shram Portal (30.6 crore registered unorganized workers), PM Jan Arogya Yojana (60 crore beneficiaries), and Targeted PDS (covering 81.35 crore people for food security).
India took a strong stance on ILO’s Fair Migration Agenda, advocating for well-regulated, skills-based migration pathways. As one of the world’s largest countries of origin for migrant workers and the highest recipient of remittances, India urged ILO to intensify global cooperation on social protection and rights for migrant workers through bilateral agreements. India also backed ILO’s proposal to convene the first Tripartite Global Forum on Migration, reinforcing its role as a leading partner in the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
Reiterating its commitment to environmental sustainability, India emphasized its leadership in global chemical safety initiatives. The Indian delegation endorsed ILO’s actions following the Bonn Declaration and highlighted domestic efforts, including the Factories Act, 1948, and the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020, aimed at ensuring worker safety in hazardous industries. Capacity-building efforts under Viksit Bharat 2047 to enhance workplace safety in Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) units were also showcased.
Bilateral Engagements and Future Collaborations
In a high-level bilateral discussion, Sumita Dawra met ILO Director General Gilbert F. Houngbo and congratulated him on his Global Coalition for Social Justice initiative. She reiterated India’s call for ILO to consider in-kind benefits while assessing social protection coverage, a crucial aspect of India’s State-Specific Data Pooling Exercise in collaboration with ILO to refine the measurement of social protection coverage.
Acknowledging India’s proactive role in the Global Coalition, DG-ILO praised India’s leadership in championing responsible business practices, fair wages, and AI-driven employment solutions. He invited India to actively participate in the upcoming Annual Forum on Social Justice, emphasizing the country’s best practices in Responsible Business Conduct, Living Wages, and the Future of Work in the AI era.
India’s first-ever voluntary financial support to ILO, funding a feasibility study on developing an international reference classification of occupations in collaboration with OECD, was also widely appreciated. This initiative, a historic commitment made under India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, aims to facilitate global employment opportunities for Indian youth through benchmarking and mutual recognition of skills.
Going forward, India and ILO will explore joint initiatives on living wage determination, welfare measures for gig and platform workers, and promoting decent work in global value chains. The Indian delegation also included Shri Rakesh Gaur, Deputy Director, Ministry of Labour & Employment, who participated in discussions on policy alignment and future collaborations.
The ILO Governing Body meeting continues to serve as a vital platform for advancing India’s vision of inclusive and sustainable labour policies, strengthening international cooperation, and ensuring a fair and equitable future for workers worldwide.
