Inside this issue:

Social Justice Campaign by

UNCT

Stake-holders consultation on maintenance of rural roads

Homage to departed friends of

the ILO

1

2

2

Social Partners write:

♦ CITU

♦ AIOE

3

4

Stakeholders consultation on

way out of informality

5

National Workshop on Career

Services

Trade Unions’ campaign on

Core Labour Standards

Technical workshop on skills

6

6

6

Reflections on Employment

challenges

Addressing constraints to

inclusive growth

7

7

Disability inclusion

News, views and analysis from

the World of Work

8

8

♦ A renewed

National Youth

Policy, 2014 was

launched by the

Government of

India in Febryary

2014. The Policy

identifies five

objectives and

eleven priorities

for youth

development and

empowerment.

In his interview, Mr. Oscar Fernandes, the Union Minister of Labour and Employment, said that domestic workers should be made to feel at home in their place of work. The employers should give domestic workers comfortable environment and respect as well as legal

protection.

Mr. Fernandes stated that the basic requirements are payment of reasonable wage and working conditions. The Government of India has recognized the domestic workers and in the policy it is proposed to provide social security, including health care to them. The Government of India and State Governments would contribute to bear

the cost.

Quarterly E-Newsletter from the ILO’s Office in India

January - April 2014 Volume 3, Issue 1

Latest National Latest National Latest National Latest National

DevelopmentsDevelopmentsDevelopmentsDevelopments

Social Justice Campaign by the UN Country Team in IndiaSocial Justice Campaign by the UN Country Team in IndiaSocial Justice Campaign by the UN Country Team in IndiaSocial Justice Campaign by the UN Country Team in India

Delivering the Lecture on ‘The Invisible Workers: Rights, Justice and Dignity for Domestic Workers’, Dr. Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, said, “No society can survive without the massive contribution that domestic work makes to national income.” Yet it remains largely invisible and undervalued. “Inequality in India permits lower wages for domestic work”, she added. Dr. Ghosh called on India to ratify the ILO Convention No. 189 on Domestic Workers that guarantees the

fundamental rights of domestic workers to decent and secure work.

Noting that domestic workers are amongst the most vulnerable of workers in India, Lise Grande, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative said, “All workers, including

domestic workers have the right to fair working conditions.”

In 2011, an overwhelming majority of 185 member states of the ILO voted in favour of adopting the Domestic Workers Convention No. 189 which according to Tine Staermose, Director, ILO Country Office for India and Decent Work Team for South Asia, is a universal recognition of the need to protect the rights of domestic workers. “Current initiatives in India that include expanding access to health insurance, setting minimum wages for domestic work, and organizing domestic workers, are important steps towards ensuring decent working and living conditions for domestic workers”, she

added.

The ILO, as the lead Agency of the United Nations Country Team’s Task Force on Employment and

Social Protection, facilitated a number of activities in February-March 2014, with a focus on decent

work for domestic workers in connection with the Social Justice Day on 20 February. The Campaign

features at the ILO and UN Websites. The key initiatives were:

1. A panel discussion at the Press Club on 19 February 2014;

2. Interview with Parliament TV, aired on 25 February 2014;

3. A high-level public event with Professor Jayati Ghosh as the speaker with almost 900 people

participating and more connected through the internet on 1 March 2014;

4. Short interviews with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Government of India, Mr. Oscar

Fernandes, tripartite constituents, experts and domestic workers themselves;

5. Brochures, posters, cartoons; and

6. Uploading of research from ILO and UN agencies on the topic on UN web.

The campaign reached 10 million people during the month of February 2014.

E-Newsletter January - April 2014 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 2

Mr. Umraomal Purohit, former General

Secretary of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, passed away

on 27 February 2014. Mr. Purohit, 85, was

President of All India Railwaymen’s Federation.

He also represented the nearly five million

Central Government employees of India at the

dispute resolution body, the Joint Consultative

Machinery. Mr. Purohit had a long association

with the International Transport Workers’

Federation and was elected as its President in

1998. He held the position for two terms till 2006. Mr. Purohit was a gentle yet strong labour leader who dedicated his life to defend

workers’ rights.

Social Justice Campaign by the UN Social Justice Campaign by the UN Social Justice Campaign by the UN Social Justice Campaign by the UN continued from page 1

Ms. Amarjit Kaur, National Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress, stated that the first thing necessary to improve the condition of domestic workers is to get recognition that domestic workers are “workers” legally. She wanted the Government of India to ratify the ILO Convention No 189; bring out a National Policy for Domestic Workers; and fix minimum wages for them. Ms. Kaur further said that unionising domestic workers and changing society’s attitude towards them were important steps towards their empowerment.

In this context, the ILO

organized a stakeholders

consultation on 25 January

2014 in New Delhi to present

a draft policy on Maintenance

of Rural Roads in India and

get feedback.

Participants included Mr. LC

Goyal, Secretary to the Govt.

of India, Ministry of Rural

Development; Mr. Rajesh

Bhushan, Director General

(NRRDA) and Joint Secretary,

MORD; Ms. Tine Staermose ,

Director, ILO DWT for South

Asia and Country Office for

India; Mr. Arnab

Bandyopadhayay Senior

Transport Specialist, World

Bank; Mr. Mukesh Gupta,

Senior Specialist, ILO DWT -

Employment Intensive

Investments; Ms. Manju

Rajpal, Deputy Secretary (RC)

& Project Leader PMGSY RRP – II, MORD; Principal Secretaries / Secretaries of 28 states & union territories and Chief Executive Officers / Chief Engineers of all PMGSY States; Dr. Geoff Edmonds, Chief Technical Adviser – ILO PMGSY RRP; and representatives of trade unions and employers.

In continuation to the National workshop, follow up workshops were organized in the States of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya

and Punjab.

The objectives of these workshops were to obtain comments on the draft Guide on rural road maintenance management; το discuss maintenance funding; and to chart a clear work plan of what activities the State requires the ILO project to implement in relation to the

improvement of maintenance procedures and systems.

Prof. G.K. Chadha, the distinguished

economist and academician, died on 1

March 2014. Dr. Chadha, 73, was former

Vice Chancellor and professor emeritus of

the Jawaharlal Nehru University and also

the first President of the South Asian

University set up by SAARC. He had served

as member of the Economic Advisory

Council to the Prime Minister. Dr. Chadha

had long professional association with a number of national and

international academic institutions and development

organizations including the ILO.

Stakeholders’ Consultation on Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSYStakeholders’ Consultation on Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSYStakeholders’ Consultation on Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSYStakeholders’ Consultation on Maintenance of Rural Roads under PMGSY

The National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) of the Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development and the ILO

have signed an agreement for provision of technical assistance for developing and launching innovative and sustainable rural roads

maintenance systems for the Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Programme (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana), being implemented in seven

states (Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand).

Homage to Two Departed Friends of the ILOHomage to Two Departed Friends of the ILOHomage to Two Departed Friends of the ILOHomage to Two Departed Friends of the ILO

The group agreed fully on implementation of the Contract Labour

(Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 and its rules in letter and spirit.

Among other things, it also agreed that “payments should be made to

contract workers though banks. Necessary amendments should be

made in Act/Rules”. While others agreed, the employers in the

Tripartite Committee did not agree to give equal wages for the same and

similar jobs done by contract workers.

The State Labour Ministers Conference held on 22nd January 2010 had

recommended to amend provisions of the Act and to incorporate

provision contained in Rule 25 (2)(v)(a) in the main body of the Act. This

was discussed in the 43rd Indian Labour Conference held on 23rd and

24th November 2010 where it was supported by representatives of

Trade Unions and State Governments. This rule referred to earlier, is

that ensures equal wages and other service conditions for doing the

same and similar jobs by the contract workers. As it is not part of the

Act, an excuse is being found by employers for its non-implementation.

Standing Labour Committee, (SLC) in its 46th meeting on 31st January

2014 was informed that “a group of Ministers after detailed

discussions, accorded their approval in principle to amend the

provisions contained in the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition)

Act 1970 and which is under process”. The details of these decisions

are not yet available. This SLC had finalized the Agenda items for the

46th ILC to be held this year. This includes – “Review on

implementation of the Conclusions/Recommendations of 43rd, 44th

and 45th Indian Labour Conference, particularly on Contract Labour,

Minimum Wage and Scheme Workers and Tripartite Mechanism”.

It can be clearly understood that despite discussions, decisions and

recommendations of Indian Labour Conference, Meeting of State

Labour Ministers, studies by National Institute of Labour Studies and

continuous struggles by workers in different sectors, Govt. of India has

been refusing to take any concrete step on the contract workers issues!

Notwithstanding our struggles for abolition of contract system, the

immediate demands for ensuring the entry level wage of regular workers

for the Contract Workers, equal wage increments, ensuring social

security, hours of work, holidays, canteen facilities and other service

conditions could be attained only through united struggles.

- By Mr. A. K. PadmanabhanMr. A. K. PadmanabhanMr. A. K. PadmanabhanMr. A. K. Padmanabhan, President, Centre of Indian Trade Unions

Amend Labour LawsAmend Labour LawsAmend Labour LawsAmend Labour Laws:::: Absorb Contract LabourAbsorb Contract LabourAbsorb Contract LabourAbsorb Contract Labour

Contributions from our Social PartnersContributions from our Social PartnersContributions from our Social PartnersContributions from our Social Partners

E-Newsletter January - April 2014 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 3

“Nearly 90% of India’s workforce is unorganized and produces as

much as 50% of its GDP. These workers enjoy none of the health

insurance and other benefits that organized employees do, nor are

they paid for taking time off. Work conditions in certain

manufacturing and construction sectors are hazardous, with no

mitigation for workers. Regularising contract workers will go a long

way to boost the welfare of workers and improve industrial relations

that remain fraught.” A recent editorial in the Economic Times says.

The Planning Commission has initiated discussions with Employers

Organizations and Central Trade Unions on Contract Labour. It is on

this basis, the report of “Voluntary Guidelines” have come out in the

media. A section of the employers claim that they have, within their

organizations, decided to make certain improvements in the working

conditions of contract labour.

Abolition of contract labour in perennial jobs have been a demand of

the workers for more than fifty years. The Contract Labour (Regulation

and Abolition) Act with a lot of loopholes had not resulted in solving

the issues. More than that, some Judgments of the highest court have

resulted in this obnoxious system spreading in all the sectors!

Contract system, which initially began in lower level jobs, which were

not of perennial nature has now spread to all the departments and

sections of regular and basic operations and productions in factories

as well as regular office jobs. The Standing Committee on Labour in

their report to Parliament reported that “there has been steep rise in

establishments resorting to contract labour system, avoiding regular

appointment”. This menace has taken a disastrous dimension in both

Public and Private Sector. In the Central PSUs, on the average more

than 50 per cent of the work force is under contract system. A recent

study on Gurgaon Area in Haryana, reveals that the ratio of regular to

contract workers is 1:9 which means 90 per cent of workers are under

contract system.

The 42nd Indian Labour Conference, held in February 2009 discussed

“all issues connected with contractualisation of labour”. With

divergent views expressed in the Conference, a tripartite group was

formed in 2009, to examine the provisions and suggest amendments

to the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act. The group made

a few recommendations on peripheral issues but, expectedly, could

not reach `consensus’ on main issues.

The The The The views expressed above are entirely those of the contributor. views expressed above are entirely those of the contributor. views expressed above are entirely those of the contributor. views expressed above are entirely those of the contributor.

Participants of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network ILO Global Business and Disability Network ILO Global Business and Disability Network ILO Global Business and Disability Network meeting held in Bangalore on 28 April 2014 (Brief report on page 8)

E-Newsletter January - April 2014 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 4

Contributions from our Social PartnersContributions from our Social PartnersContributions from our Social PartnersContributions from our Social Partners

The All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE) organised a series of workshops on ‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace’‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace’‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace’‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace’, the most recent on 22 February 2014 in New Delhi. The workshops were intended at educating and sensitizing employers on various provisions of the recently enacted ‘Sexual‘Sexual‘Sexual‘Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’ and it’s compliance at the enterprise level. A simplified Guide Book on the subject for the use of employers was also developed by the AIOE. The ILO Office in New Delhi provided technical and other support for these activities.

Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the WorkplacePrevention of Sexual Harassment at the WorkplacePrevention of Sexual Harassment at the WorkplacePrevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace

The views expressed above are entirely those of the contributor. The views expressed above are entirely those of the contributor. The views expressed above are entirely those of the contributor. The views expressed above are entirely those of the contributor.

Champion Components Ltd., an ILO SCORE* trained

enterprise based in Faridabad received Prime

Minister's MSME National Award 2013 (First Prize) (First Prize) (First Prize) (First Prize)

under the 'lean' 'lean' 'lean' 'lean' category in a ceremony organized by

the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise

(MoMSME) on 1 March 2014. The ministry has

introduced the 'lean' category for MSME National

Award to recognize MSMEs in India for implementing

Lean techniques. Champion Components first

introduced lean management concepts under the

MoMSME’s Lean Manufacturing Competitive Scheme

(LMCS) in 2009-10. It initiated SCORE training for

productivity improvement in November 2011 and

recently completed all the 5 SCORE modules in

January 2014.

The February 2014 workshop was addressed by the Ms. Reiko Tsushima, Senior Gender Specialist – ILO; Mr. Piyush Sharma, Addl. Labour Commissioner – Government of Delhi and Ms. Amarjeet Kaur, National Secretary – AITUC. Mr. Anshuman Chatruvedi, Asst. Director – FICCI made a brief presentation on the guidebook for employers for ‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment’. Presentations were also made by Aditya Birla Group Ltd. (Private Sector) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Public Sector) on their existing policies and practices for prevention of sexual harassment at their workplace. The legal perspectives of act were elaborated by Mr. Mohak Bhadana, Advocate, Supreme Court of India. The workshops had overwhelming participation and were widely appreciated.

- Ms. Parisha Singh, Sr. Assistant Director, AIOE

Winning Prime Minister's MSME National Award 2013 with SCOREWinning Prime Minister's MSME National Award 2013 with SCOREWinning Prime Minister's MSME National Award 2013 with SCOREWinning Prime Minister's MSME National Award 2013 with SCORE

Chairman of Champion Components Ltd., Mr. S.C.Bhatia receiving the national award from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. K. H. Muniyappa,

Minister for MSME, Government of India.

* * * * Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) is a practical training and in-factory counselling programme of the ILO that improves productivity and working conditions in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The product demonstrates best international

practice in the manufacturing and service sectors and helps SMEs to participate in global supply chains.

E-Newsletter January - April 2014 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 5

The ILO organized a workshop on 9 January 2014 in

Mumbai under the Project ‘Way Out of Informality:

Facilitating Formalization of the Informal Economy’ to: a)

familiarize stakeholders with the main areas of work

under the recently-launched Decent Work Country

Programme for India: 2013-17 to link the vision of the

DWCP-India with state level activities; and b) present

findings of the ILO thematic study on small-scale

manufacturing linked to the automobile sector,

conducted under the Project. The workshop also served

as a basis to discuss possible interventions of the

project to address the issues identified in the study.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Arvind Kumar, Principal

Secretary (Labour), Government of Maharashtra,

who chaired the meeting, among other things, stressed on social engineering and the need to change attitudes. He noted that the top-most

priority is economic growth, which comes from prudent policies and creation of job opportunities. Firms cannot keep contract workers

permanently and that if work is of a permanent nature, the workers should be made permanent. He emphasised the need to amend the

regulatory framework to address fundamental problems, and underscored the importance of good relations between management and

workers. He acknowledged ILO’s contribution in setting Standards and hoped that the Project would make a useful contribution in

formalizing the informal sector.

Dr. T.S. Papola, the eminent economist and Member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on MSEs, made a detailed presentation on the

study on informality among small-scale manufacturing enterprises in the automobile sector in Haryana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu,

especially focusing on Maharashtra.

Ms. Sunita Chhibba, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), Government of India, spoke about

three issues of importance for enterprises and entrepreneurship development, stressing on the desire to reduce cost of compliance:

(a) Improved regulations; (b) delivering benefits through schemes; and (c) skilling and flexibility of labour.

She indicated that the MoMSME is trying to make things easy and that some of the recommendations made in the ILO study can already be

considered as accepted. She suggested to the ILO to prepare some case studies where enterprises have moved from informal to formal.

Ms. Chhibba stressed on the need for dialogue with workers in enterprises. She felt that responsibilities of employers are quite clear, but

knowledge is the first step for getting workers’ rights.

Ms. Tine Staermose spoke about the need for a conducive industrial relations environment and the need for dialogue process. She stressed

that there are a number of employers’ who are doing the right things and it would be useful to look at good practices together with the trade

unions. Ms. Staermose placed on record her appreciation for the excellent relationship between the ILO and MoMSME.

Other distinguished participants who spoke include Mr. Sharad Patil, Secretary General, Employer' Federation of India; Dr.R.M.Tungare,

Director, Mahrashtra Institute of Labour Studies; Mr. Suryakant Bagal, Hind Mazdoor Sabha; Mr. S.V. Damle, All India Trade Union Congress;

Dr. Vivek Monterio, Centre of Indian Trade Unions; Ms. Shweta Tambe, Committee for the Right to Housing; Mr. K.I.P. Menon, Trade Union

Coordination Committee ; Ms. Mansa Bhattacharjee, All India United Trade Union Congress; Mr. Kailas Kadam, Indian National Trade Union

Congress; Mr. J.R. Bhosale, Hind Mazdoor Sabha; Mr. Vijay Kumar Gautam, Commissioner and Director, Directorate of Vocational Education

and Training and Mr. Anshuman Chaturvedi, All India Organisation of Employers.

Stakeholders Consultation on Way Out of InformalityStakeholders Consultation on Way Out of InformalityStakeholders Consultation on Way Out of InformalityStakeholders Consultation on Way Out of Informality

E-Newsletter December 2013-March 2014 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 6

National Workshop on Career ServicesNational Workshop on Career ServicesNational Workshop on Career ServicesNational Workshop on Career Services

The National Trade Union Organizations in India are implementing various activities on promotion of ratification and implementation of the ILO Core Conventions. Out of the 8 Fundamental Conventions, India is still in the process of ratifying four conventions namely, C.87 (Freedom of Association), C.98 (Collective Bargaining), C. 138 (Minimum Age of Employment) and C.182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour). The ILO, through the ACTRAV/Norway project, “Trade Unions for Social

Justice” has been supporting this campaign.

The CLS ratification campaign was first initiated in Tamil Nadu State by the national trade unions through a common platform “Trade Unions Joint Action Forum” (JAF). The national trade union organizations at various fora have expressed interest for expansion of the Tamil Nadu project initiatives and model to more states. In order to address the constituent’s interest and to strengthen the trade union capacities to take forward the ratification campaign, the project in collaboration with the central trade unions organized a “National Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Trade Union Joint Actions on Core Labour Standards” in September 2013. The project initiatives were also expanded to six more States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra,

North East Region, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

At the sugestion of the Ministry of Rural Development, the ILO conducted a technical orientation workshop on 11 April 2014 on the skills ecosystem in India for senior officials of the recently-launched Aajeevika Skills, the skills and placement initiative of the National Rural Livelihood Mission.

The Ministry of Labour &

Employment (MoLE)/ ILO

/ UKIERI organized a

National Workshop on

Career Services on 11

March 2014 in New

Delhi. The objective was

to learn from experience

s of existing global

systems in connection

with a major time-

bound initiative launched

by MoLE to re-engineer

India's national

employment services to

national career services.

Mr. Alok Kumar, Director-General of Employment & Training, MoLE, among others, spoke at the Workshop.

National Trade Unions Campaign on Core Labour StandardsNational Trade Unions Campaign on Core Labour StandardsNational Trade Unions Campaign on Core Labour StandardsNational Trade Unions Campaign on Core Labour Standards

TechnicalTechnicalTechnicalTechnical Workshop on SkillsWorkshop on SkillsWorkshop on SkillsWorkshop on Skills

Aajeevika Skills will fund a large number of additional training places in the private training market with training partners expected to achieve high rates of placement for employment. The focus of ILO inputs during the meeting were on how best Aajeevika Skills can integrate this training activity with the current skills reform agenda and the evolving arrangements for training delivery, assessment, certification and quality assurance in India.

Page 7

E-Newsletter January - April 2014 From the ILO’s Office in India

The ILO and the Institute of Applied Manpower Research (IAMR), Planning Commission, Government of India, jointly organized a technical dialogue on “India at Work: Addressing the Constraints to Inclusive Growth” on 9 April 2014 in New Delhi to discuss the factors underlying the current employment trends in India with a view to providing policy options. Dr. Montek Singh AhluwaliaDr. Montek Singh AhluwaliaDr. Montek Singh AhluwaliaDr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairperson, Planning Commission, speaking as the chief guest, stressed that the aim should be to not only increase employment, but also to see a fall in the unemployment rate, an improvement in the quality of employment, higher incomes, greater work security, social mobility and improved access to public services. He also pointed out the problems with real time data availability in India both positive and negative outcomes in the Indian labour market.

Reflections on India’s Employment ChallengesReflections on India’s Employment ChallengesReflections on India’s Employment ChallengesReflections on India’s Employment Challenges

Dr. Santosh MehrotraDr. Santosh MehrotraDr. Santosh MehrotraDr. Santosh Mehrotra, Director-General, IAMR, in his presentation, pointed out the trends over recent years, such as the increase in wages since 2004-5, the growth in non-agricultural employment, and the fall in poverty. However, the challenge is to meet the supply of labour in

coming years. In this regard, IAMR estimates that 17 million jobs need to be created per annum.

Ms. Tine StaermoseMs. Tine StaermoseMs. Tine StaermoseMs. Tine Staermose, Director, ILO, in her welcome address underlined the fact that over the last few years, there has been considerable

discussion on employment challenges in India: a lot has been said on "jobless growth", the slow growth of manufacturing employment, the

decline in female labour force participation, the persistence of informality and the growth of contract labour, to name some of the

key dimensions. In this context, it is important to disentangle the trends to highlight both positive and negative outcomes in the Indian

labour market.

On 2 April 2014, the Planning Commission, Government of India, and the ILO jointly organized a meeting of experts on 'Reflections on India's Employment Challenges: Where are the Jobs', as part of ILO's Decent Work Debate series. Among the distinguished participants were Ms. Vinita Kumar, Senior Advisor, Planning Commission; Ms. Sunita Sanghi, Advisor, Planning Commission; Mr. S. Dasgupta, Advisor, Planning Commission; Dr. T.C.A. Anant, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; Mr. P.P. Mitra, Labour & Employment Advisor, Ministry of Labour & Employment; Mr. Pravin Srivastava, Dy. DGET, Ministry of Labour & Employment; Dr. T. S. Papola, Dr. Ashok Sahu, Dr. Alakh N Sharma, Dr. S.K. Sasikumar, Dr. Ratna Sudarshan, Prof. Dev Nathan, Dr. A. Sinha and about 50 other eminent persons including senior trade union leaders from AICCTU, AIUTUC, BMS, CITU, HMS, SEWA Bharat, TUCC and UTUC; employers' representatives from SCOPE, CII, ASSOCHAM and Laghu Udyog Bharti. The event reviewed progress on the main employment challenges and trends in India, drawing from both the analysis of data (NSS rounds including the 68th Round) and other research on various employment dimensions. Among the critical issues discussed were: the changing relationship between employment and growth, challenges arising from labour market dualism/segmentation, and the high unemployment rate among educated youth and women. It also reflected on the implications of the current slowdown and weak macroeconomic environment for future employment trajectories, which could be further impacted by demographic pressures over the coming years. Further, given the overall challenges facing emerging economies around the world in recent years, the meeting also considered the situation facing India in a global context. Through this discussion and future such events, it is hoped that new insights could be generated to help refocus policy efforts to address the

task of creating more and better productive employment in the 12th Five-year Plan and beyond.

Addressing the Constraints to Inclusive GrowthAddressing the Constraints to Inclusive GrowthAddressing the Constraints to Inclusive GrowthAddressing the Constraints to Inclusive Growth

E-Newsletter January - April 2014 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 8

Disability inclusion makes good business sense Disability inclusion makes good business sense Disability inclusion makes good business sense Disability inclusion makes good business sense

News, views and analysis from the world of workNews, views and analysis from the world of workNews, views and analysis from the world of workNews, views and analysis from the world of work

Social protection measures are essential elements of the Social protection measures are essential elements of the Social protection measures are essential elements of the Social protection measures are essential elements of the policy response policy response policy response policy response (for socio-economic recovery). Countries with strong social security systems have reduced their poverty rates by more than half, through social transfers and have significantly reduced inequality. ...It is timely to recall those countries that historically have built sound economies and decent societies with social protection. And more recently, countries in a range of circumstances - from Brazil to Thailand and China to Mozambique have been making considerable efforts to make social protection an integral part of their development strategies. They are showing that affordability

cannot be the excuse for inaction. - Mr. Guy Ryder, DG, ILO

.~*~*~

Income inequality Income inequality Income inequality Income inequality is rising in India, where the net worth of its

billionaires has jumped 12-fold in 15 years, enough to

eliminate absolute poverty twice over in the country, says the

International Monetary Fund (IMF).

~*~*~

Cash transfer programmes, poverty reduction and Cash transfer programmes, poverty reduction and Cash transfer programmes, poverty reduction and Cash transfer programmes, poverty reduction and empowerment of womenempowerment of womenempowerment of womenempowerment of women: A comparative analysis A comparative analysis A comparative analysis A comparative analysis ----Experiences Experiences Experiences Experiences from Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico and South Africa from Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico and South Africa from Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico and South Africa from Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico and South Africa This contributes to new thinking on ways to improve the impact of such programmes on women's poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. It considers not only the immediate impact of programmes, but also seeks to identify evidence on the longer-term effects and wider implications for various dimensions of women’s empowerment, such as providing women with skills to enable them to enter quality jobs in the labour market, and including employment, income generation and care. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/gender/Informationresources/WCMS_233599/lang--en/index.htm

The ILO estimates that 865 million women around the world 865 million women around the world 865 million women around the world 865 million women around the world are being held backare being held backare being held backare being held back. They face discrimination at birth, on the school bench, in the board room. They face reticence of the marketplace-and of the mind. If women participated in the labour force to the same extent as men, the boost to per capita incomes could be huge -- 27 percent in the Middle East and North Africa, 23 percent in South Asia, 17 percent in Latin America, 15 percent in East Asia, 14 percent in Europe and Central Asia.

~*~*~

The Global Employment Trends 2014 The Global Employment Trends 2014 The Global Employment Trends 2014 The Global Employment Trends 2014 study report says the

weak global economic recovery has failed to lead to an

improvement in global labour markets, with global

unemployment in 2013 reaching almost 202 million,

affecting young people disproportionately. The

unemployment rate in India too is rising.

~*~*~

Conventional macroeconomic and labour regulation policies

are failing, and as a result the global economic recovery has

been much slower than expected, say two new publications

from the ILO. Beyond macroeconomic stabilityBeyond macroeconomic stabilityBeyond macroeconomic stabilityBeyond macroeconomic stability and Creative Creative Creative Creative

labour regulationlabour regulationlabour regulationlabour regulation call for new and coordinated thinking in

policy-making and highlight the linked fates of the developed

and developing worlds.

For more information and details please visit the ILO website:

http://www.ilo.org http://www.ilo.org http://www.ilo.org http://www.ilo.org

Editorial Management & Advice: Ms. Tine Staermose, Director and Ms. Panudda Boonpala, Deputy Director. Editor: Mr. Anandan P. Menon Contributors: Ms. Anjana Chellani, Mr. Sher Verick, , Ms. Susamma Varghese, Ms. Sudipta Bhadra and Mr. Rajan Muthuswamy

We’re on the web! www.ilo.org/india ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia &ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia &ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia &ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia &

Country Office for IndiaCountry Office for IndiaCountry Office for IndiaCountry Office for India

Core 4B, 3rd Floor, India Habitat Centre

Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003, India Promoting jobs, protecting peoplePromoting jobs, protecting peoplePromoting jobs, protecting peoplePromoting jobs, protecting people

Phone: +91-11-24602101

Fax: +91-11-24602111

E-mail: delhi@ilo.org

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The ILO Global Business and Disability Network is a network of multinational enterprises, employers' organizations, business networks and

disabled persons' organizations who share the conviction that people with disabilities have talents and skills that can enhance virtually any

business. Be in good company: join us! (http://www.businessanddisability.org)

On April 28, the Network held a meeting in Bangalore to provide participants with a better understanding of what disability inclusion in the

workplace really means and on concrete steps to move forward within the national context. Hosted by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the

event gathered about 50 participants from multinationals operating in India, national enterprises and employers’ organizations from India,

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as well as senior officials from the Government of India and ILO Specialists. (Group photo on page 3).