Technology and the Future of Work
Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, jointly with ILO Country Office for India and V V Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) organizes an event on the theme of Technology and the Future of Work.
Technology has been recognized as the major driver in transforming the world of work. It is evident that this transformation has differential consequences within developed, emerging and developing economies. How will the world of work in India be impacted by this transformation? In recent years technological changes have been initiated by a series of initiatives taken by the Government of India and other stakeholders focusing mainly on the digital revolution. It is in this broad context the event provided a forum for structured conversations between direct stakeholders — employers, employees and the government — and the wider world of academics and civil society representatives.
Hon’ble Minister of Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya said that penetration of technology to the farthest mile is crucial to the development agenda of the nation. “Our government, under the leadership of our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has brought in big revolution in technology especially in the area of governance. Transparency and accountability is key and this can only take place through the aid of technology.”
Citing specific, governmental interventions, Dattatreya spoke of the use of ICT in the EPFO system by way of providing a Universal Account number to all employees. He said that linking Adhar card to the EPFO has ushered in transparency and has also resulted in swift action on EPFO claims. Currently, 17 crore 80 lakh EPFO accounts are being operated in a single day. The earlier issues in the PF system that were largely man-made have been sorted.
On the issue of career advancement, the government has also set up the National Career Service Portal (www.ncs.gov.in) where more than four crore youth are registered and about eight lakh employers access the platform. A variety of employment related services are offered like job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses and others.
Dattatreya spoke of the need for skilling manpower – through quality education and knowledge-transfer – and that the private sector can play a pivotal role in this regard. He said that with skilled workforce India is going to make great strides in its developmental agenda. “Future of jobs is secure. The one who works more, learns more will get more employment. Education and skilling is key to access decent work.”
The event saw a rich panel discussion wherein a young entrepreneur Rudraksh Mukta Kulshreshtha said that artificial intelligence and automation will in future only work towards enhancing productivity of the labour market. Virjesh Upadhyay, General Secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, spoke of the need to recognize the human resources in changing technological times. That jobs and access to decent work must be key. Pertinent issues such as rise in minimum wages, inclusion of women in the developmental narrative and enabling their role in innovation and doing business, creating skilled manpower, and access to social security were discussed at length.
Dev Nathan, Professor at the Institute for Human Development, spoke of managing the transition to new technologies requires ensuring that those who lose their old jobs now can have access to new jobs by way of skilling and education. He discussed how creative disruption can bring in challenges as well as opportunities in the world of work. “Security of jobs is essential to boost innovation.”
Panudda Boonpala, Director, ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia and Country Office for India, spoke of the need to address the challenges in the informal economy, critically studying the impact of automation, robotics on the world of work and renewing commitment and focus on generating quality employment so as to meet Goal 8 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda that is decent work for all.
Hon’ble Minister of Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya said that penetration of technology to the farthest mile is crucial to the development agenda of the nation. “Our government, under the leadership of our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has brought in big revolution in technology especially in the area of governance. Transparency and accountability is key and this can only take place through the aid of technology.”
Citing specific, governmental interventions, Dattatreya spoke of the use of ICT in the EPFO system by way of providing a Universal Account number to all employees. He said that linking Adhar card to the EPFO has ushered in transparency and has also resulted in swift action on EPFO claims. Currently, 17 crore 80 lakh EPFO accounts are being operated in a single day. The earlier issues in the PF system that were largely man-made have been sorted.
On the issue of career advancement, the government has also set up the National Career Service Portal (www.ncs.gov.in) where more than four crore youth are registered and about eight lakh employers access the platform. A variety of employment related services are offered like job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses and others.
Dattatreya spoke of the need for skilling manpower – through quality education and knowledge-transfer – and that the private sector can play a pivotal role in this regard. He said that with skilled workforce India is going to make great strides in its developmental agenda. “Future of jobs is secure. The one who works more, learns more will get more employment. Education and skilling is key to access decent work.”
The event saw a rich panel discussion wherein a young entrepreneur Rudraksh Mukta Kulshreshtha said that artificial intelligence and automation will in future only work towards enhancing productivity of the labour market. Virjesh Upadhyay, General Secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, spoke of the need to recognize the human resources in changing technological times. That jobs and access to decent work must be key. Pertinent issues such as rise in minimum wages, inclusion of women in the developmental narrative and enabling their role in innovation and doing business, creating skilled manpower, and access to social security were discussed at length.
Dev Nathan, Professor at the Institute for Human Development, spoke of managing the transition to new technologies requires ensuring that those who lose their old jobs now can have access to new jobs by way of skilling and education. He discussed how creative disruption can bring in challenges as well as opportunities in the world of work. “Security of jobs is essential to boost innovation.”
Panudda Boonpala, Director, ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia and Country Office for India, spoke of the need to address the challenges in the informal economy, critically studying the impact of automation, robotics on the world of work and renewing commitment and focus on generating quality employment so as to meet Goal 8 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda that is decent work for all.