India is committed to increasing female workforce participation to 70% by 2047, supported by extended maternity leave, creche facilities, and equal pay provisions, according to Labour Secretary Sumita Dawra. Speaking at the first G20 Employment Working Group Meeting 2025 under South Africa’s presidency, Dawra emphasized the role of women in high-growth sectors like IT, R&D, and engineering as key drivers of economic growth.
G20 Meeting Focuses on Employment & Labour Reforms
The Indian delegation, led by Dawra, participated in the meeting in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, from February 18-21. Discussions centered around inclusive growth, youth employment, social security, and digitalisation for a sustainable workforce. India’s Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme was highlighted as a key initiative to promote formal sector employment and increase economic participation.
Dawra also showcased India’s labour market modernization through reforms such as the e-Shram portal, which has registered over 300 million unorganized workers, and the modernization of ESIC and EPFO schemes to expand social security. Youth empowerment through skill development was a critical focus, with graduate employability rising from 34% to 55% in the last decade.
India’s Expanding Social Security & Labour Market Reforms
India’s social security coverage has doubled from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024, as per the ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2024-26. Ongoing work with ILO to include state-level benefits and in-kind support is expected to further increase coverage.
Dawra also highlighted India’s job market transformation, with unemployment falling from 6% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24. Key investments in agriculture, MSMEs, manufacturing, medical education, and infrastructure have strengthened global supply chains and export-driven employment.
Also read: Salary Hikes in India to Stabilize at 9.2% in 2025: Aon
Labour Reforms & Global Engagement
India’s labour market modernization through four Labour Codes was highlighted, emphasizing worker welfare, gig and platform worker security, and female workforce inclusion. Discussions at the G20 Employment Working Group included inputs from ILO, OECD, and G20 member nations such as the UAE, the Netherlands, and Norway, focusing on global employment trends and best practices.
Dawra reaffirmed India’s commitment to building an inclusive workforce, ensuring labour market flexibility, social security, and formalized employment, contributing to India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
