Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said India’s social protection system now covers around 101 crore people, or more than 68 per cent of the country’s population, a milestone that has been recognised by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Addressing the 4th Global Industrial Relations Summit in New Delhi, Mandaviya said the achievement was highlighted by the ILO during the BRICS Labour Ministers’ Meeting held in Hyderabad last week, reflecting global recognition of India’s expanding social security coverage.
The two-day summit has been organised by the All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE) in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the ILO.
Emphasising the importance of balanced industrial growth, the Union Minister said harmonious industrial relations require sustained coordination among governments, employers, workers, trade unions and industry to ensure that economic growth and employment generation progress together.
He said industrialisation remains central to national development as it creates employment opportunities, while also highlighting the growing role of self-help groups and cooperative models—particularly women-led initiatives – in strengthening livelihoods, promoting women’s empowerment and supporting economic growth.
“It is essential to have a balanced development model that advances the welfare and social security of workers while also ensuring ease of doing business for employers,” Mandaviya said.
The Minister said sustained economic growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, supported by stable taxation, higher savings, increased purchasing power and expanded manufacturing, has created a virtuous cycle of development and job creation.
Highlighting improvements in employment generation, Mandaviya said employment elasticity has risen significantly, with every one per cent increase in GDP now generating 1.11 per cent employment growth, compared to just 0.008 per cent around twelve years ago.
Announcing proposed reforms in the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), the Minister said quality private hospitals could be empanelled as ESIC facilities, expanding healthcare access for beneficiaries. He also highlighted reforms in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), including fully digital claims processing, automatic transfer of provident fund accounts under a single Universal Account Number (UAN), and the possibility of introducing UPI-based withdrawals in the future.
Speaking at the summit, Michiko Miyamoto, Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia and Country Office for India, congratulated India on expanding social protection coverage to more than one billion people. She said the achievement, based on ILO estimates, would play an important role in supporting India’s future economic growth.
A souvenir commemorating the two-day Global Industrial Relations Summit was also released by Mandaviya in the presence of other dignitaries.
