India Expands Social Protection to 48.8% Amid Global Push for Labor Welfare

India has further increased its coverage of social protection to 48.8%, a significant Labour Welfare step. India reaffirmed its commitment towards international labour standards and occupational safety in the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) 353rd Governing Body meeting at Geneva. While leading the delegation, Sumita Dawra, Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Employment, discussed the progress achieved by the nation in enhancing schemes of social security. The conversation also covered international labor matters like equitable migration, occupational safety, and ethical business practices.

Strengthening Social Security Initiatives:-
India's drive to strengthen social protection is seen in the enlargement of programs like the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), the e-Shram Portal, and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The EPFO has 7.37 crore contributing members at present, and the ESIC covers 60 crore beneficiaries. The e-Shram Portal, which targets unorganized sector workers, has enrolled 30.6 crore members, and the PM Jan Arogya Yojana has also covered 30.6 crore beneficiaries.

The Indian delegation highlighted the nation's initiative for counting in-kind benefits in assessing social protection coverage, an issue under joint consideration with the ILO. India's role in international labor debate is to continue with its backing for the forthcoming UN-convened Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha.

Moving Global Labor Dialogue and Migration Policies Forward:-
India has been an important contributor to the international labor talks, promoting greater cooperation in terms of regulating skills-based migration and social security arrangements. Being the world's largest remittance recipient country and having the rank of a leading exporter of labor, India has reiterated the importance of global cooperation to ensure the protection of migrant workers.

The nation also endorsed the ILO's suggestion to organize the first Tripartite Global Forum on Migration under the aegis of the Global Coalition for Social Justice. India's leadership in organizing the first Regional Dialogue on Social Justice in New Delhi has been acknowledged, with an invite to showcase its best practices at the Annual Forum on Social Justice.

Commitment to Workplace Safety and Labor Laws:-
Workplace safety continues to be a priority area, with India focusing its efforts under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. India is also striving to improve safety arrangements in major accident hazard units under the Viksit Bharat 2047 Action Plan.

The delegation considered current efforts to foster good business practices, where pay is fair and labor standards are ethical. As an example of a move towards international employment benchmarking, India's voluntary financial contribution to an ILO-OECD study of the feasibility of an international reference classification of occupations was noted.

Future of India's Labor Policies and Cooperation with ILO:-
India's increasing collaboration with the ILO will likely accelerate progress towards establishing living wages, enhancing working conditions of gig and platform workers, and decent employment practices across sectors. As a voice for labor rights and social protection, India is well on its way to becoming a world leader in building a brighter future of work.

By. strengthening social security provisions, campaigning for equitable migration policies, and bolstering workplace safety regulations, India is contributing to labor welfare worldwide significantly. With an intensification of collaboration with global institutions, India's efforts are likely to provide a model to follow for emerging economies in improving labor rights and social safeguards.

Source: PIB