PolitySource: The Hindu
MoS Shobha Karandlaje Addresses Plenary Session at 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva; Highlights India’s Labour Reforms, Social Protection and Digital Public Infrastructure
Saturday, 13 June 2026
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At the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, MoS Shobha Karandlaje highlighted India's labour reforms and social protection initiatives. This is crucial for UPSC aspirants as it relates to GS Paper 2 (Governance) and GS Paper 3 (Economic Development). Last Updated: 13-06-2026
Key Facts About India's Labour Reforms
- Consolidation of Labour Laws: India has merged 29 Central Labour Laws into four Labour Codes to simplify compliance and enhance workers' welfare.
- Youth Employability: Increased from 34% in 2014 to over 56% in 2025.
- Unemployment Rate: Dropped from 6% in 2017 to 3.1% in 2025.
- Women's Workforce Participation: Rose from 22% to 38.8%.
- Social Security Expansion: Coverage increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% by 2025, benefiting approximately 1 billion people.
- Digital Public Infrastructure: The National Career Service and e-Shram portal facilitate job matching and worker registration.
- International Labour Mobility: A holistic approach links domestic skilling with global employment opportunities.
- Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Launched to promote rapid employment generation.
India's Labour Reforms in a Global Context
India's labour reforms are pivotal for enhancing economic competitiveness and aligning with global standards. These reforms support India's strategic goals of increasing employment and social protection, contributing to broader economic growth. Comparatively, India's growth in social security coverage and workforce participation is significant on an international scale.
UPSC Relevance
- GS Paper 2: Governance, Social Justice, and International Relations - Labour laws and social protection.
- GS Paper 3: Economic Development - Employment trends and digital infrastructure.
- Prelims Angle: Questions on labour codes, employment statistics, and social security schemes.
- Mains Angle: Analytical themes on labour reforms, social protection, and economic inclusivity.
FAQ Section
- What is the significance of India's participation in the ILC? India’s participation underscores its commitment to global labour standards and highlights its domestic reforms in labour laws and social protection.
- Why are India's labour reforms important? These reforms aim to simplify compliance, enhance worker welfare, and increase employment opportunities, aligning with India's economic and social goals.
- What are the key features of India's labour reforms? Key features include the consolidation of labour laws, increased social security coverage, and the promotion of digital public infrastructure for employment services.
Detailed Coverage
- MoS Shobha Karandlaje led India's delegation at the 114th International Labour Conference.
- India consolidated 29 labour laws into 4 modern Labour Codes.
- Youth employability increased from 34% in 2014 to over 56% in 2025.
- Unemployment rate decreased from 6% in 2017 to 3.1% in 2025.
- Women's workforce participation rose from 22% to 38.8%.
- Social protection coverage increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% by 2025.
- The National Career Service and e-Shram portal facilitate job matching.
- India emphasizes a holistic approach to international labour mobility.
- New initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana were launched.
- Challenges include legal grey zones for gig workers and algorithmic tyranny.
- Proposed measures include defining new worker categories and adopting the Rajasthan Model.
- Digital compliance and actionable linkage of the e-Shram portal are prioritized.
- Reviving the Indian Labour Conference is crucial for effective dialogue.
- Labour reforms aim to improve economic competitiveness.
- Success depends on extending social security to informal and gig workers.
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