Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Represents India at South Asia Labor Mobility Conference in Bhutan

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to address issues related to international labor migration, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo is representing India at the South Asia Labor Mobility Conference, organized by the World Bank in Thimphu, Bhutan, on May 20 and 21.

The two-day conference brings together over 100 participants from countries across South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific, including representatives from Italy, Australia, the UAE, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Jamaica, and Bangladesh. Key officials from the World Bank and various governments are also in attendance.

Singh Deo, who also serves as Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, is currently the Chairman of the Task Force on Distressed Migration, a key national role aimed at addressing the complex challenges surrounding labor migration. His participation underscores India’s growing focus on developing sustainable migration policies, particularly in the context of distressed and vulnerable migrant populations.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh Deo highlighted the importance of international collaboration in addressing labor mobility and migration challenges. “This conference is a timely platform to deliberate on critical issues affecting migrant workers and to explore long-term, inclusive solutions through shared policy frameworks,” he stated.

The Deputy Chief Minister is accompanied by Principal Secretary, Labour and Employees’ State Insurance, Chitra Arumugam, who is also actively engaging in discussions and policy dialogues.

The South Asia Labor Mobility Conference aims to facilitate strategic conversations among policy makers, labor experts, and international partners to develop comprehensive frameworks for safe, legal, and beneficial migration, especially from labor-sending countries. Topics under discussion include bilateral labor agreements, worker protections, skills recognition, remittance policies, and integration of returnees.

Singh Deo’s presence at the conference signals Odisha’s proactive role in labor and migration policy at both the national and international levels. With Odisha often witnessing high levels of labor migration, particularly from rural and economically vulnerable regions, the insights from this global forum are expected to contribute meaningfully to the state’s ongoing efforts to create secure, dignified, and opportunity-driven migration pathways.