ILO and trade unions chart path forward for an inclusive labour agenda in India

New Delhi, INDIA (ILO News): The International Labour Organization (ILO) and India's Central Trade Unions have announced a collaborative plan to address the evolving challenges facing India's workforce, following the consultation "Towards an Inclusive Labour Agenda for India". The event brought together over 30 participants representing 11 Central Trade Unions and various ILO departments.

Michiko Miyamoto, Director, ILO India, addressed the senior leaders of India’s trade union centres: “… we depend on your vision and cooperation. Each of our thematic partnerships affords us the opportunity to build technical capacity among our younger leaders and attract new members to our organizations”. Ariel Castro, Desk Officer for the Asia-Pacific, ACTRAV, ILO, in his address to set the context, highlighted the historic opportunity for the trade unions define the elements of a "renewed social contract," drawing upon the outcomes of the 112th International Labour Conference. He emphasized the crucial role of trade unions in ensuring that economic growth translates into tangible social progress and improved working conditions for all.

The consultation centred around three key themes:

• Youth Employment and Quality Apprenticeships: Participants discussed the urgency of tackling youth unemployment and promoting quality apprenticeships aligned with ILO standards. Trade union leader Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, HMS, emphasized the need for the government to prioritize filling existing vacancies in the organized sector. Somesh Biswas, BMS, expressed confidence that trade unions can play a key role in promoting and monitoring quality apprenticeships in partnership with employers and government bodies realize the standards set out in ILO’s Recommendation 208. Further, citing the success in unionizing agricultural workers for adequate wages and reduction in child labour, R D Chandrasekhar, INTUC, specifically emphasised on the need for formalization of informal sector jobs.
• Rights of Platform Workers: Acknowledging the rapid growth of the platform economy in India, participants agreed on the need to improve social security and labour rights for platform workers. Amitava Guha, CITU stressed the need for clarity regarding worker classification, stating that the absence of a clear classification of platform workers as employees excludes platform workers from accessing the legal protections and benefits afforded to traditional employees. Appreciating the ILO-initiative for gathering trade union feedback on the issue in preparation for the standard-setting discussions on platform economy scheduled for the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) in 2025, S M Fahimuddin Pasha, representing the ITUC Asia-Pacific, underscored the importance of trade union participation in shaping the future of work in the platform economy.
• Mainstreaming Just Transition in India's Climate Agenda: With climate change posing significant threats to livelihoods, not only in energy-focused sectors of the economy but also other sectors facing the vagaries of extreme weather events, the consultation emphasized the need for a just transition for workers. Tejal Kanitkar, a climate expert speaking at the consultation, stressed upon the need to broaden the scope of “just transition(s)” to include mitigation and adaptation needs of workers. C J Joseph of the Mr C J Joseph, Indian Mines Workers Federation (Coal Sector) expressed concern about the lack of effective communication with workers to educate them on the future and impacts of energy transitions being deliberated at the policy level. Sakshi Agarwal from SEWA highlighted the vulnerability of informal workers to climate change, stating that about 80 per cent of workers are losing workhours and some experiencing up to a 50 per cent wage decrease due to extreme weather in India.

The ILO and trade unions agreed to collaborate on several key actions, including strengthening communication and engagement between stakeholders, providing technical support to trade unions for policy development, building capacity for youth leadership within trade unions, and advocating for the rights of platform workers.