Decent work and social justice take centre stage during ILO Director-General’s India visit
The Director-General joins first Regional Dialogue on Social Justice with Coalition Partners and meets with ILO’s social partners during his two-day mission.
26 February 2025
NEW DELHI (ILO News) – The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to advancing decent work, social protection, and social dialogue in India, during an official mission to the country.
During his visit, which took place from 24-25 February 2025, Houngbo took part in the first Regional Dialogue on Social Justice, which was hosted by India as the Coordinating Member of the Global Coalition for Social Justice in Asia Pacific.
At the event, the Director-General recognized India’s progress in extending social protection coverage. He also welcomed India’s efforts to enhance its Environmental, Social and Governance framework, highlighting the importance of responsible business conduct and social dialogue to ensuring the sustainability of enterprises in the country.
“The foundation of businesses contributing to decent work and inclusive economic growth lies in social dialogue and consultations between governments, social partners and enterprises which ultimately charts the way forward,” Houngbo said.
During the inaugural session, India presented a joint statement to commit to advancing social justice, signed by 21 organizations, including employers and workers organizations, as well as companies that have recently joined the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
The Director-General met with Indian Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. In addition, he held talks with workers’ and employers’ organizations with discussions touching on social dialogue, informal economy challenges and the impact of technology in a rapidly transforming world of work.
Keeping up with the theme of emerging trends of work and skilling of the youth population to reap India’s demographic dividend, the Director-General also paid a visit to a Global Capability Centre (GCC), an innovation hub that offers training and employment opportunities to youth in sectors including finance, IT, healthcare, and AI.