MoS Shobha Karandlaje Addresses Plenary Session at 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva

📌 Summary:

• MoS Shobha Karandlaje led India's delegation and addressed the Plenary of the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) at Geneva (ILO)
• India's labour reforms (guided by 'Antyodaya'): 29 central labour laws consolidated into 4 Labour Codes to simplify compliance and strengthen workers' welfare
• Employment data cited: youth employability up from 34% (2014) to over 56% (2025); unemployment fell from 6% to 3.1% (2017–25); women's workforce participation rose from 22% to 38.8%
• Social protection coverage expanded from 19% (2015) to 64.3% (2025), covering ~940 million people; ILO preliminary estimate puts coverage at ~1001 million
• Digital Public Infrastructure showcased: National Career Service Portal and e-Shram Portal as scalable Digital Public Goods
• Bilateral meetings with Rwanda, Sri Lanka and ILO DG Gilbert Houngbo; India–ILO feasibility study on an international reference classification of occupations
• Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana cited for employment generation

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 economy (employment, labour reforms) and GS2 (ILO, social protection).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• ILO is a UN specialised agency, HQ Geneva; this was the 114th ILC
• India consolidated 29 labour laws into 4 Labour Codes
• e-Shram and National Career Service are India's labour DPI portals; social security coverage 64.3% (2025)

🔑 Key Term: Labour Codes — four codes (Wages; Industrial Relations; Social Security; Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions) consolidating 29 central labour laws.