Speech of Hon’ble MOS (IC) for Labour & Employment

 To be delivered in Plenary of 104th session of ILC, 2015

1. It gives me immense pleasure to address this august gathering. India and ILO have a vibrant relationship marked by close cooperation over years. We both share a commitment for inclusive growth and job creation. As we approach the centenary of this unique tripartite forum, I am confident that these ties will be further strengthened.

2. India is one of the fastest growing nations of world. We have one of the biggest domestic market and demand in our country. We have the largest youth population. 58% of our population is under the age of 29 years.

3.  Govt. of India is committed to usher in a governance of transparency and accountability. We are fully committed to securing inclusive growth, leading to sustainable development. The earlier GDP growth rate of less than 5% has now reached to 7.4% in one year.

4. My government under the dynamic leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi has taken the flagship initiatives like Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Smart Cities Project. Make in India is a unique endeavor by any Govt to encourage domestic industry and attract large scale global investment. We look at Make in India as a unique opportunity for job creation for our youth .We have embarked on a massive mission of skilling India particularly youth to correct and match the demand for skill sets.

5. We are committed on the issue of elimination of Child labour. We are bringing a Bill in the Parliament  for a complete prohibition of employment of children below 14 years. We are following a robust multi prolonged strategy to tackle the problem of child labour comprising of statutory and legislative measures, rescue and rehabilitation, universal education along with social protection, poverty alleviation and employment generation schemes.  More than 1 million working children have been mainstreamed to regular education system under the NCLP scheme as on December, 2014.

6. Govt. is committed to protect and safeguard the interests of workers and upholding the dignity of labour. Financial inclusion and social security cover for everyone is the top priority for the government especially for the vulnerable class of workers. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is the biggest financial inclusion initiative in the world. Under this, 140 million accounts have been opened and the beneficiaries will get an accidental insurance as well as life insurance coverage.

7. Govt has initiated a process of providing an umbrella card to the unorganized sector workers. This move will bring social security coverage for 1 billion people. For the organized sector, portability of provident fund benefits in a hassle free manner has been assured for more than 50 million workers. Govt has also launched three ambitious schemes Atal Pension Yojana , Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana to provide Old age Pension, Life Insurance and accidental Insurance for vulnerable class of workers . These schemes will be operational from 1st June, 2015.

8. India believes that poverty eradication and job creation are primary objectives to achieve inclusive growth under the ambit of Sustainable Development Goals in United Nations Framework.

9. ILO is the supreme forum for labour issues. In the contemporary global economic scenario as a buildup to the post 2015 SDGs, there is an increasing interactions between UN organizations as well as other international fora. We urge ILO to take the leadership role in these interactions to ensure that decent work is integral to the policies for economic growth. I welcome DG, ILO’s vision for ILO as this unique tripartite organization reaches its centenary. I extend my compliments and best wishes that ILO under his leadership will be able to guide the new global economic order towards sustainable and inclusive growth.

Thank You.

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