Indore, Madhya Pradesh witnessed a momentous occasion as Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers Meet via video message. Welcoming the dignitaries to the historic and vibrant city, he showcased its rich culinary traditions and urged them to savor its diverse colors and flavors.
Emphasizing the pivotal role of employment as a critical economic and social factor, the Prime Minister highlighted the impending transformative changes in the employment sector. Addressing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, he stressed technology’s central role as the driving force behind employment growth, citing India’s success in creating countless technology jobs during previous transformations.
Skilling the workforce with advanced technologies and processes took center stage in his speech, with a strong focus on “Skill India Mission” and “Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana,” which have already trained over 12.5 million Indian youths. He underscored the significance of up-skilling and re-skilling as indispensable tools for the future workforce. Additionally, he emphasized special attention to Industry 4.0 sectors like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things, and Drones.
Acknowledging the dedication of India’s frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s potential to become a global provider of skilled workforce. He called for G20’s collective effort in globalizing the development and sharing of skills, commending member nations’ initiatives in referencing international occupations by skills and qualifications requirements. The Prime Minister advocated for evidence-based policies to foster better skilling, workforce planning, and gainful employment by sharing vital statistics and information.
Discussing the gig and platform economy, he acknowledged its resilience during the pandemic and its potential in generating gainful employment, particularly for the youth and women. He urged the adoption of new-age policies and interventions to harness this potential while ensuring social security, health, and safety for these workers. India’s ‘eShram portal,’ with nearly 280 million registrations, served as an exemplar for targeted interventions for such workers.
Turning the focus to social protection, the Prime Minister called for comprehensive frameworks considering diverse benefits provided by countries, such as universal public health, food security, insurance, and pension programs. He stressed the need for tailored approaches to each country’s unique economic capacities and challenges to ensure sustainable financing of social protection.
Concluding his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the G20 meeting would send a resolute message for the welfare of workers worldwide. He applauded the dignitaries’ efforts in tackling urgent issues in this vital field, marking a significant step towards a brighter future for global workforce empowerment.
