India Participates in 353rd Governing Body Meeting of ILO in Geneva

India actively participated in the 353rd Governing Body Meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) held in Geneva, Switzerland from March 10 to March 20, 2025. The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, who highlighted India’s achievements in social protection, fair migration, living wages, and responsible business conduct. India reaffirmed its commitment to labour welfare, social justice, and quality employment generation, while supporting ILO’s key initiatives like the Global Coalition for Social Justice and the Second World Summit for Social Development.

Key Highlights of India’s Participation

India’s Interventions on Key Labour Issues

• Advocated for social protection, responsible business conduct, living wages, and AI and future of work.
• Supported ILO’s Fair Migration Agenda and promoted skills-based migration pathways.
• Highlighted India’s progress in social protection, with coverage increased to 48.8%, surpassing the global average by 5%.
• Showcased key initiatives like EPFO (7.37 crore members), ESIC (14.4 crore beneficiaries), e-Shram Portal (30.6 crore unorganized workers), PM Jan
• Arogya Yojana (60 crore beneficiaries), and Targeted PDS (81.35 crore beneficiaries).

Support for ILO’s Global Initiatives

• Backed the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar.
• Extended support for ILO’s proposal to convene the first Tripartite Global Forum on Migration.
• Reaffirmed commitment to the Global Framework on Chemicals and Waste Management.
• Highlighted India’s Factories Act, 1948 and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 for worker safety.

Bilateral Engagement with ILO Leadership

• Ms. Sumita Dawra met ILO Director-General Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo and congratulated him on the Global Coalition for Social Justice initiative.
• Discussed India’s State Specific Data Pooling exercise with ILO for accurate social protection coverage.
• India’s first-ever voluntary financial support to ILO for the International Reference Classification of Occupations was appreciated.
• Future collaborations on living wages, gig workers’ welfare, and decent work in value chains were discussed.

India’s Key Contributions Recognized by ILO

• Hosting of the Regional Dialogue on Social Justice in New Delhi (2024).
• Leading the “Responsible Business for Sustainable and Inclusive Societies” initiative.
• Supporting the feasibility study on international classification of occupations under India’s G20 presidency.