Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, 21 September 2026, directed officials to roll out country-specific 'Skill Passports,' overhaul curricula at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and training centres, and set up safe overseas recruitment mechanisms under the state's newly articulated Global Workforce Mobility Policy 2026. The directives were issued at a one-day international conference in Mumbai, jointly organised by the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), the Protocol Department, the Department of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the Maharashtra Agency for Holistic International Mobility and Advancement (MAHIMA).

Why Maharashtra Is Betting on Global Labour Markets

Fadnavis pointed to shifting global demographics as the core driver: ageing populations in developed nations are generating sustained demand for skilled workers across engineering, healthcare, construction and technical fields. Citing the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, he noted that nearly 170 million new jobs will be created globally by 2030, while 92 million jobs will be displaced. Maharashtra, he said, is positioned to capture a significant share of that demand by aligning India's youth potential with global requirements — a concept he framed as 'Circular Mobility of Talent.'

India has already signed labour mobility agreements with 28 countries, creating a foundation on which the state intends to build. Fadnavis said Maharashtra would play a 'key role' in ensuring the country meets international workforce expectations.

What the Policy Framework Entails

The policy prioritises six pillars: skill development, demand-aligned training, language instruction, certification, documentation assistance and pre-departure orientation. Departments have been directed to leverage the experience of recruitment agencies to communicate foreign workforce needs to training institutes, adopt blended digital and practical training methods, set timelines and baseline tests for online language courses, and integrate digital translation tools into instruction.

Notably, the framework also addresses the return leg of mobility — the government has committed to re-integrating skilled professionals coming back from abroad with domestic industries, an often-overlooked dimension of overseas employment policy.

MoU With Digital India Bhashini to Break Language Barriers

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the conference between Digital India Bhashini, MITRA and MAHIMA to provide free training in foreign and industry-specific languages using translation technology. The initiative is aimed specifically at ITI and polytechnic students, addressing one of the most persistent barriers to overseas employment for first-generation workers.

What Ministers Said

Protocol Minister Jaykumar Rawal said international labour mobility should be seen as an 'economic partnership' connecting skills, investment, diaspora and global markets. He emphasised coordination with foreign consulates, industries, universities and skill institutions to link Maharashtra's talent with global opportunities.

Skills Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha added that professional training would be complemented by cultural orientation, helping workers adapt to foreign environments. Workers heading overseas, he said, would also serve as 'ambassadors,' strengthening ties between Maharashtra and host nations.

What Comes Next

With the Skill Passport framework, ITI curriculum revamp and the Bhashini MoU now formally directed, implementation timelines will be the next test. The success of the policy will ultimately depend on whether demand-side intelligence from recruitment agencies is translated effectively into training outcomes — and whether the re-integration mechanism for returning workers gains institutional traction.