Roundtable on 'Mainstreaming Employment in Economic Policy Making' hosted by ILO

NEW DELHI: ILO organized a closed-door Technical Policy Dialogue on “Mainstreaming Employment in Economic Policymaking”. The objective of the dialogue was to deliberate on the key elements of an integrated policy approach aimed at fostering productive employment generation and advancing structural transformation in the Indian economy.

The session opened with a presentation by Ms Radhicka Kapoor, Senior Employment Specialist at ILO DWT/CO-New Delhi, and Mr Amit Basole, ILO External Collaborator and Professor of Economics & Head of the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University. The presentation emphasized the importance of placing productive employment and decent work at the core of policy priorities. It highlighted how aligning macroeconomic (monetary and fiscal), sectoral, and industrial policies—including trade and investment strategies—with employment objectives, alongside skills development, employment services, and active labour market programmes, could contribute to the dual goals of full employment and enhanced productivity.

Following the presentation, a roundtable discussion moderated by Ms Michiko Miyamoto, Director, ILO DWT/CO-New Delhi was held with representatives from the Ministries of Labour & Employment, Finance, Department of Commerce, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Statistics & Programme Implementation, and MSME, as well as the Reserve Bank of India, NITI Aayog, and state governments of Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Participants shared insights on how their respective ministries and institutions are contributing to and facilitating the advancement of productive employment generation and structural transformation in India.