India reaffirms GCSJ commitment at ILO's 114th Labour Conference in Geneva
Synopsis
India used the 114th ILO Labour Conference in Geneva to stake a larger claim in shaping global labour standards — arriving not just with pledges but with numbers: unemployment halved to 3.1%, women's workforce participation nearly doubled to 38.8%, and social protection now covering over a billion people. The data reframes India's multilateral posture from recipient to active architect of the GCSJ's next phase.
Key Takeaways
Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje led India's delegation to the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva on 12 June 2025 .
India reaffirmed its commitment to the Global Coalition for Social Justice (GCSJ) , established by the ILO in 2023 .
India's unemployment rate fell from 6% in 2017 to 3.1% in 2025; youth employability rose from 34% to 56% .
Women's workforce participation surged from 22% to 38.8% over the same period.
India's social protection coverage has reached 68.4% of the population — approximately 1,001 million beneficiaries , per preliminary ILO estimates.
India consolidated 29 Central Labour Laws into four Labour Codes as part of domestic reform.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje led India's delegation to the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, reaffirming the country's commitment to advancing the objectives of the Global Coalition for Social Justice (GCSJ) alongside the International Labour Organisation (ILO), governments, employers' and workers' organisations, and other stakeholders. The pledge came through an official statement issued on Friday, 12 June.
High-Level Engagements on the Sidelines
Karandlaje participated in the Coordination Group Meeting of the GCSJ on the sidelines of the conference. During the meeting, she held discussions with Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO, as well as Labour Ministers of Bangladesh, Moldova, and Brazil, the Swiss Labour Minister, the Vice Minister of Belgium, and other senior partners, according to the Labour Ministry.
What India Committed To
'India looks forward to contributing actively to the next phase of the Coalition's work by promoting inclusive growth, strengthening social protection systems, supporting responsible business practices and fostering international cooperation for equitable and resilient labour markets,' the official statement read.
The GCSJ, established by the ILO in 2023, functions as a multi-stakeholder platform to strengthen multilateral cooperation and convert political commitments into concrete action. It plays a key role in enhancing coherence, coordination, and efficiency across the multilateral system.
India's Labour Reform Record
India has undertaken wide-ranging labour reforms guided by the principle of 'Antyodaya', consolidating 29 Central Labour Laws into four Labour Codes to simplify compliance, strengthen workers' welfare, and create a more transparent labour ecosystem.
The country's youth employability rate has risen from 34% in 2014 to over 56% in 2025. Over the same period, the unemployment rate fell from 6% to 3.1%, while women's workforce participation surged from 22% to 38.8%.
Social Protection Coverage Reaches Over 1 Billion
Karandlaje also briefed ILO Director-General Houngbo on the expansion of India's social protection coverage, which — according to preliminary ILO estimates — has reached 68.4% of the total population, corresponding to approximately 1,001 million beneficiaries. This figure positions India among the fastest-expanding social protection systems globally.
As the GCSJ moves into its next phase, India's engagement at Geneva signals a broader diplomatic push to shape global labour standards from within multilateral forums rather than on the periphery.
Point of View
But its methodology has drawn scrutiny domestically, particularly around the inclusion of unpaid agricultural work in participation counts. The social protection figure of 1,001 million beneficiaries, drawn from preliminary ILO estimates, similarly warrants closer examination of coverage depth versus breadth. What the Geneva engagement does signal clearly is a strategic shift: India is increasingly positioning itself as a rule-shaper in multilateral labour forums, not merely a compliant member — a posture with implications for how global labour standards are negotiated in the GCSJ's next phase.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Global Coalition for Social Justice (GCSJ)?
The Global Coalition for Social Justice is a multi-stakeholder platform established by the ILO in 2023 to strengthen multilateral cooperation and translate political commitments on social justice into concrete action. It brings together governments, employers' organisations, workers' bodies, and other partners to improve coherence across the multilateral system.
What did India commit to at the 114th ILO Labour Conference?
India reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the GCSJ's objectives, pledging to promote inclusive growth, strengthen social protection systems, support responsible business practices, and foster international cooperation for equitable labour markets. The commitment was conveyed through an official statement on 12 June 2025.
How has India's employment landscape changed since 2014?
India's youth employability rose from 34% in 2014 to over 56% in 2025, while the unemployment rate fell from 6% in 2017 to 3.1% in 2025. Women's workforce participation nearly doubled from 22% to 38.8% over the same period.
How many people does India's social protection system cover?
According to preliminary ILO estimates, India's social protection coverage has reached 68.4% of the total population, corresponding to approximately 1,001 million beneficiaries. This was shared with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo during the Geneva meeting.
What are India's four Labour Codes?
India consolidated 29 Central Labour Laws into four Labour Codes as part of a domestic reform drive guided by the 'Antyodaya' principle, aimed at simplifying compliance, strengthening workers' welfare, and modernising the country's labour regulatory framework.
