India is a founding member of the ILO and has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922. The first ILO Office in India opened in 1928. Today, the ILO Country Office for India and Decent Work Technical Support Team (DWT) for South Asia is a centre of technical excellence, which supports all countries in South Asia to realize decent work for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for India (2018-22), formulated and adopted by the constituents at the national level through a process of tripartite consultation, is the framework for ILO’s assistance to constituents in the country. The ILO’s country programme for 2018-22 is closely aligned to UN Sustainable Development Framework, specifically supporting UNDSF outcomes 1, 3 and 7.

Its seven priorities are:

1. By 2022, institutions are strengthened to progressively deliver universal access to basic services, employment, and sustainable livelihoods in poor and excluded rural and urban areas.
2. By 2022, there is improved and more equitable access to, and utilization of, quality, affordable health, water, and sanitation services
3. By 2022, more children, young people, and adults, especially those from vulnerable groups, enjoy access to quality learning for all levels of education
4. By 2022, all children enjoy essential nutrition services and rural smallholders and other vulnerable groups have improved livelihoods and greater access to a nutritionally adequate food basket
5. By 2022, Environmental and natural resource management (NRM) is strengthened and communities have increased access to clean energy and are more resilient to climate change and disaster risks
6. By 2022, People vulnerable to social, economic and environmental exclusion, have increased opportunities for productive employment through decent jobs and entrepreneurship
7. By 2022, women, children, and young people have improved access to equal opportunities and an enabling environment, to advance their social, economic and political rights