Employment Elasticity Improves As Social Protection Coverage Reaches 68.8%: Mandaviya

New Delhi, Aug 1 (KNN) India's social protection systems now cover around 101 crore people, or 68.8 percent of the country's population, Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya said at the FICCI-AIOE 4th Global Industrial Relations Summit.

Social Protection Coverage Reaches 68.8% Of Population

Mandaviya said the coverage figure was acknowledged by the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the BRICS Labour Ministers' meeting held last week.

The minister also said employment generated per percentage point of GDP growth has increased from 0.1 percent around 12 years ago to 1.15 percent in the latest data, indicating a significant improvement in employment elasticity.

Industry, Workers Seen As Partners In Labour Reforms

He attributed the shift to a broader approach to industrial relations involving industry, government, trade unions and workers as interdependent stakeholders.

Mandaviya said employers, workers and trade unions are increasingly being treated as partners within the same enterprise and credited industry and trade unions for their cooperation in implementing the four labour codes.

ESIC May Expand Network Through Private Hospitals

On social security reforms, he said the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) could expand its network by designating well-run private hospitals as ESIC facilities, indicating further reforms in the corporation.

He also highlighted the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) move towards fully digital claims and automatic transfer of accounts through a single Universal Account Number (UAN). UPI-based withdrawals are also under consideration.

ILO Calls For Greater Investment In Human Capital

Michiko Miyamoto, Director, ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia and Country Office for India, said ILO estimates show India has crossed one billion people covered by at least one of the nine branches of social protection.

However, she cautioned that economic growth alone may not ensure a smooth transition and called for greater investment in human capital, including AI literacy, continuous reskilling and higher female workforce participation.

Industrial Relations Need Focus On Productivity

Jasbir Singh, President, All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE), said industrial relations should move beyond dispute resolution and become a driver of productivity and competitiveness.

FICCI Director General Jyoti Vij said technology, demographic changes and geopolitics are reshaping how, where and for whom work is organised.

The summit was organised by AIOE in association with FICCI and ILO.

(KNN Bureau)