Quarterly E-Newsletter From the ILO’s Office in

April—June 2013 Volume 2, Issue 2

Inside this issue: The Director General of ILO Visits India The Director-General of the ILO, Mr. Guy Ryder, was on a two-day visit to India on 18 - 19 May 2013.

This was Mr. Ryder‟s first visit to India after taking over as the 10th Director-General of the ILO Director General visits 1 Organization on 1 October 2012. India Mr. Ryder called on His Excellency Dr. , the , Hon‟ble Mr. Education for All: Global 2 , the Minster of Labour & Employment and Mr. Mrityunjay Sarangi, Secretary to the Monitoring Report , Ministry of Labour & Employment. Mr. Ryder was accorded an honour by inviting him to address the 45th Session of Indian Labour Conference organized by the Ministry of Labour & Experience sharing on MES-SDI 2 Employment, Government of India. He had interactions with ILO Governing Body Members from India

Mr. Y.K. Modi and Mr. N.M. Adyanthaya, representing the employers and workers respectively. Mr.

Ryder also had a meeting with the ILO staff members based in India. Social Partners write: 3  INTUC

 AIOE 4

National Consultative Forum on 5 LMIS

Getting to Zero at Work 5

SAARC Countries’ Commitment 6 to tackle Child Labour

National News Highlights 7

ILO New Delhi Staff with the DG 8 While addressing the Indian Labour Conference, Mr. Guy Ryder drew parallel between the Indian

Labour Conference and the International Labour Conference and highlighted the shared values of

commitment to social justice and human dignity as well as their faith in tripartism and social dialogue.

News, views and analysis from 8 He lauded India‟s important role at the international stage including in the ILO, G-20, BRICS and IBSA. the World of Work Mr. Ryder said making policies for jobs-rich growth continues to be a top priority of the ILO. Among

ILO‟s priority areas for action, Mr. Ryder emphasized the following eight: employment generation, youth Latest Developments employment, improvement of productivity and decent working conditions in small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthening labour inspection and administration, establishing social protection floors

for all, formalization of the informal economy, making rural work decent, and rededicating itself to the  Indian Cabinet elimination of unacceptable forms of work, like putting an end to forced and bonded labour, trafficking and to advancing the fight against child labour. He mentioned that dangerous work and crimes against decides to ratify

women are important challenges countries need to address. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; Mr. Guy Ryder stated that the ILO would be inspired by India‟s experience with the n e c e s s a r y National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme which has reached many millions in a massive process amendment to of social inclusion and social betterment. Merchant Shipping Act, 1956 expected. “I look to India‟s future with enormous optimism”, said  Government of India Mr. Ryder. He applauded adopts the National the Indian democratic spirit Policy for Children, and the spirit of tripartism 2013. and sought her support for the ILO programmes and  National Food policies. “In return I offer Security Ordinance you all the ILO‟s support and 2013 comes into its solidarity with your great effect. country” Mr. Ryder said in conclusion.

E-Newsletter April—June 2013 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 2

National Launch of the 2012 Education for All Global Monitoring Report UNESCO and ILO organized a Joint National Launch of the 2012 Education for All Global Monitoring Report on "Youth and Skills: Putting Education to Work" on 6 April 2013, in New Delhi. The report reviews global progress towards achieving the six 'Dakar' EFA goals and considers, through qualitative and quantitative analysis, the skill needs of young people across more than 200 countries. The report draws attention to emerging challenges and calls for greater international cooperation to support education and skills development for young people. The executive summary of the report is available at Youth and Skills: Putting Education to Work: EFA global monitoring including vocational training. Ms. Tine Staermose, Director of the ILO Office in New report: 2012, summary http:// Delhi, highlighted the fact that the limited reach of skills development programmes not unesdoc.unesco.org/ only affects the potential for socio-economic growth but also makes the transition from images/0021/002175/217509e.pdf. school to decent work more difficult for Indian youth. Mr. S. Aayagi, Director of Dr. Karan Singh, UNESCO Executive Board UNESCO, emphasized the need for ongoing collaboration between the various Member; Member of the Delors Commission government agencies involved in education and training for youth to ensure and President of Indian Council for Cultural coordinated and integrated programming. Mr. Aayagi also highlighted the launch as a Relations, spoke at the launch about the need good example of the effective partnership between UNESCO and ILO. for a holistic education for young people,

An experience-sharing forum on the Government of India‟s Skills experiences to identify strengths, discuss challenges and Development Initiative – Modular Employable Skills Scheme (SDI recommend suggestions for strengthening future implementation. -MES) was organized on 24 May 2013 to identify key issues affecting implementation of the SDI-MES, a flagship program The forum was attended by representatives of the Central & State under the National Skills Development Policy. SDI is now in its Governments, employers, trade unions, vocational training fifth year. The ILO has collaborated with the Ministry of Labour providers, industry assessment centres and others. Various and Employment to assist with implementation of SDI in various administrative and technical issues were identified with districts under the Convergence Project on Child Labour and recommendations made to improve the quality and effectiveness through a range of interventions in brassware, glassware and of the scheme. Amongst others, the lack of national assessor domestic work clusters. The forum was an opportunity to review standards and the need to introduce standardised assessor and learn from ground-level SDI implementation training emerged as an opportunity for future technical inputs.

E-Newsletter April—June 2013 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 3 Contributions from our Social Partners „World Day against Child Labour‟ Observed by Central Trade Unions in Kolkata

Under the auspices of the Child Labour Eradication Coordination Committee the World Day Against Child Labour was observed jointly by all the Central Trade Unions on 12 June 2013 at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, Kolkata. The function was presided over by Shri Ramen Pandey, National Organising Secretary, INTUC and Working President of INTUC, West Bengal and Coordinator of Child Labour Committee of all Central Trade Unions. Shri Kanak Debnath, Vice President, INTUC and General Secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee, West Bangal; Shri Ranjit Guha, General Secretary of AITUC; Shri Debanjan Chakravarty, Secretary of CITU and other eminent leaders of Central Trade Unions from West Bengal were present and delivered their valuable speeches during the event. The Child Labour Eradication Coordination Committee will submit a memorandum to the Hon‟ble of West Bengal for onward transmission to the Prime Minister of India demanding ratification of ILO Conventions 138 and 182. The Government of West Bengal was asked to constitute a Task Force with all trade unions and Labour Directorate officials for joint action for the elimination of child labour.

Further, we demand that the Central Government set up more schools in the State under the National Child Labour Mr. Ramen Pandey Programme and evolve some mechanism Coordinator – Child Labour Eradication Coordination Committee; for providing livelihood to their families. Working President, INTUC, West Bengal.

The views expressed above are those of the contributor.

Homage to Two Departed Friends of the ILO

We in the ILO-New Delhi, as surely others who knew them, had a terrible double blow recently when Mr. R. A. Mital, National Secretary, Hind Mazdoor Sabha and Mr. Vikas, Director, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, passed away on 16 and 19 June 2013 respectively.

Mr. Mital was very much part of the ILO and played an important role in shaping and implementing the New Delhi Office‟s programmes and projects as well as in representing the working people of India in different forums dealing with issues in the world of work. His vast knowledge, dedication to ensure workers‟ rights and improve their welfare, the balanced approach to solve problems as well as his masterly inter-trade union coordination were most admirable.

Mr. Vikas was normally ILO-New Delhi‟s first point of contact in the Union Labour Ministry, who would follow up diligently on our programmes and policies as well as perform deft day to day coordination. He was committed to ILO‟s vision and mission as much as we in the ILO did. Mr. Vikas was result-oriented and always positive with a friendly demeanour. We will greatly miss these stalwarts‟ sound advice and strong support to ILO programmes.

E-Newsletter April — June 2013 From the ILO’s Office in India Page 4 Contributions from our Social Partners Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace: Issues, Challenges and Compliance

The All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE), supported by the ILO, organised a series of workshops on „Prevention of Sexual Harassment: Issues, Challenges and Compliance‟ in June, 2013 at Kolkata, New Delhi and Vadodara. The workshops were intended to educate and sensitize employers on the issue of gender at the work place to create a healthy working environment for women. Emphasis was laid on the recently enacted „Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013‟ which puts various obligations and responsibilities on the part of an enterprise for preventing and investigating the cases of sexual harassment.

AIOE organized the workshop in Kolkata in collaboration with the Bharat Chamber of Commerce and the one in Vadodara in collaboration with the Gujarat Employers‟ Organisation. The workshops had overwhelming participation of senior officials of big and small enterprises including some from the public sector. The technical sessions were addressed by experts in the field, including those from the ILO, trade union leaders and the industry. Best practices on gender equality and detering sexual harassment followed by some pioneering industries in India were shared in the workshops.

A manual for employers on gender equality and prevention of sexual harassment at workplace is being prepared, taking inputs from these workshops and in line with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The ILO Office in New Delhi is providing support for this AIOE endeavour.

Shitangshu Taye Assistant Director All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE)

The views expressed above are entirely those of the respective contributors. We invite brief contributions from Social Partners on their activities and issues of their concern. E-Newsletter April—June 2013 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 5

National Consultative Forum on Labour Market Information System The work of an ILO-facilitated National Skills and TVET Data Working Group, chaired by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, culminated in the presentation of a draft ILO proposal to strengthen the national Labour Market Information System (LMIS) in India at a National Consultative Forum on 15 May 2013. The forum brought together representatives from the tripartite constituents, various Government ministries, State Governments, Planning Commission, Office of the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Skills Development, Sector Skills Councils, training institutions, bilaterals and others. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Tiine Staermose, Director of the ILO Office in New Delhi, said that support for the LMIS proposal recognized the importance of improved coordination and sharing of information and data between different players and different levels. The programmes and policy options thus developed respond more directly to the needs of industry and workers in the Indian labour market. Mr. Sharda Prasad, Additional Secretary, at the outset, the need to include data on the unorganized sector; the Ministry of Labour and Employment, referring to the ILO importance of sectoral intelligence to help policy-makers and others report, stressed the need for a simple agreed framework understand skill requirements both now and into the future.

India launches the “Getting to Zero at Work” Campaign “Has the countdown to zero begun at your workplace?” is the key message of “Getting to Zero at Work” Campaign launched in India. The campaign was launched on 23 May 2013 through a well-attended national event in New Delhi, attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, National AIDS Control Organization, Department of AIDS Control, Employers‟ and Workers‟ organizations, Networks of People living with HIV(PLHIV), public and private sector corporates, ILO, UNAIDS and media. The inaugural session was attended by Ms Alice Ouedraogo (Director, ILO/AIDS, Geneva), Ms Tine Staermose (Director, ILO – New Delhi), Mr Mrityunjay Sarangi (Secretary, MoL&E), Mr A C Pandey (Joint Secretary, MoL&E), Ms Aradhana Johri (Additional Secretary, Dept. of AIDS, NACO), Mr B. P. Pant [Secretary, All India Organization of Employers (AIOE)], Mr. M.N. Adyanthaya [Member, ILO Governing Body (Workers)] and Mr Naveen Kumar (Member, PLHIV Network). “The key to living with HIV is having a job. But to make this a reality for people living with HIV, we must first end discrimination in the workplace” noted, Naveen Kumar, a 42 year person living with HIV, In his inaugural address, Mr. Mriytunjay Sarangi spoke briefly welcoming the campaign. about MoL&E‟s efforts in integrating HIV-related services and The campaign highlighted the need to scale up workplace HIV regarding provisions related to HIV/AIDS made in the Rashtriya programmes and to end HIV and AIDS- related discrimination at Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) and programmes by the CBWE, workplaces, both in formal as well as informal economy. The the National Labour Institute, the Director General Labour campaign is intended to strengthen the implementation of the Welfare, and the ESIC. He concluded by stating the importance National Policy on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work, adopted by of ensuring the protection of the rights of PLHIV and stated that MoLE is keen to collaborate with all stakeholders to reach India in 2009. as many workers as possible in the formal and informal Speaking at the launch event Ms Aradhana Johri presented an sectors with HIV prevention messages and linkages with overview of the trajectory of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India, listing related services. major achievements of the NACP and thanked all the partners for their support in making the NACP a robust programme. In her message for the campaign, Ms. Johri stated that „Getting to Zero at Work‟ was part of NACO‟s national response. She mentioned that NACO in collaboration with the MOLE, the private sector, trade unions, Civil Society Organizations and the ILO are fully committed to protecting workers from HIV and ending discrimination at work. During the inaugural of the campaign, Mr. A C Pandey reiterated that MoLE recognizes the relevance of HIV and AIDS as an issue for the world of work and plays a complementary role to that of NACO. He also stated that MoLE‟s efforts are a reflection of its commitment to ensure workplaces are free of stigma and discrimination and its support to implement ILO‟s Recommendation 200 on HIV/AIDS in the world of work. E-Newsletter April—June 2013 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 6

SAARC Countries Commit to Collaboration to Tackle Child Labour

The Government of India, Ministry of Labour and Employment, the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute and the International Labour Organization, organized the Second SAARC Regional Workshop on Child Labour in New Delhi, 29-31 May, 2013. Participants from government, employers‟ and workers‟ representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka exchanged information, views and experiences on the child labour challenges facing them and practices that are showing impact in addressing the problem.

The workshop culminated in a participants‟ Commitment Statement focusing on specific areas for action. Among these are:

The sharing and promotion of exchange of policy recommendations, stories of success and areas of difficulty to enable collective fight against child labour and trafficking of children for labour exploitation in the region;

Enhancing data collection tools and building knowledge resources to derive a more precise understanding of child labour and to have clarity of concepts and operational indicators to identify trafficking of children for labour exploitation; and

Capacity development of key actors, including government officials, members of employers‟ and workers‟ organizations, representatives of local government institutions.

Participating in the workshop, the representatives of SAARC Regional Secretariat, the Ministry of External Affairs (SAARC), India, and the SAARC Apex Body on Children, SAIEVAC encouraged cooperation on the issue and stressed the need for tackling the child labour problem saying it was essential for realizing the SAARC Charter, meeting the goals of the SAARC Conventions and Plans, and for giving the vast youth population of the region the opportunities for full development.

Mr. , Minister of State, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, encouraged greater south-south cooperation to address the persistence of child labour, which he termed as one of the biggest development failures in South Asia.

E-Newsletter April—June 2013 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 7

National News Highlights

Indian cabinet approves ratification of Maritime Labour Convention

The Union Cabinet recently approved the Shipping Ministry‟s proposal to amend the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and ratify the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The Convention, which is coming into force in August, seeks to provide a safe and secure work environment on a ship, fair terms of employment, decent working and living conditions onboard, medical care and other social protections. It is expected to significantly improve the working conditions for seafarers. There are no financial implications. Ships would have to comply with the Convention by having a Maritime Labour Certificate and Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance issued by the flag state. These must be available on board for any port state inspection.

National Policy for Children, 2013 Adopted

The Government of India adopted and published the National Policy for Children, 2013 in April 2013. The Policy reiterates government‟s commitment to rights based approach to children which recognises child survival, health, nutrition, education, development and protection as undeniable rights of every child.

As per the National Child Policy every person below the age of eighteen years is a child and that childhood is an integral part of life with a value of its own. According to the policy, a long term, sustainable, multi-sectoral, integrated and inclusive approach is necessary for the harmonious development and protection of children.

The policy lays down the guiding principles that must be respected by national, state and local governments in their actions and initiatives affecting children. For more details see: http://wcd.nic.in/childreport/npc2013dtd29042013.pdf

The National Food Security Ordinance, 2013 Promulgated

The Government of India has notified the National Food Security Ordinance, 2013, which entitles 67 per cent of the population to receive subsidised grains from the government every month. The ordinance places the responsibility of implementation and monitoring of the scheme under the Targeted Public Distribution System on the States. It gives them six months to put the systems in place to deliver the programme. According to the government, the National Food Security Ordinance is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives right to the people to receive adequate quantity of food grains at affordable prices. The Food Security Bill has special focus on the needs of poorest of the poor, women and children. In case of non-supply of food grains now people will get Food Security Allowance. The bill provides for grievance redressal mechanism and penalty for non-compliance by public servant or authority. To see the full text of the Food Security Bill, go to: http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/archive/01404/ National_Food_Secu_1404268a.pdf

PM‟s address at the 45th session of the Indian Labour Conference

While addressing the inaugural session of the Indian Labour Conference on 17 May 2013, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, stated that several “demands raised by the Trade Unions are already under an advanced stage of consideration by the Government. These include issues like universal social security cover for workers in both the organized and unorganized sectors and creation of a National Social Security Fund, fixing a National Floor Level Minimum Wage and provision of minimum pension of Rs. 1,000 per month under the Employees‟ Pension Scheme. In fact, the Cabinet has already approved amendments to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 to provide for a statutory National Floor Level Minimum Wage.”

For full version of the speech, plese see: http://pmindia.nic.in/speech-details.php?nodeid=1313

E-Newsletter April—June 2013 From the ILO’s Office in India

Page 8

ILO New Delhi Office staff with the visiting Director-General, Mr. Guy Ryder News, views and analysis from the world of work

“If there aren‟t jobs, there can be no sustainable economic Work In Freedom programme, a 5-year joint DFID/ILO growth. If the economy can‟t grow, it can‟t create jobs. That programme aims to prevent over 100,000 girls and women simple logic wasn‟t apparent to policy-makers who applied from South Asia from falling victim to child and labour austerity in Europe. It‟s not the only element of the economic trafficking. malaise we face, but it‟s the quintessential centre of it all.” - Mr. Guy Ryder, DG, ILO ~*~*~

.~*~*~ Forced labour in the fishing industry: The fishing sector is an important source of employment, income and food Financial cooperatives: A safe bet in a crisis. A new ILO book production for many countries. But there are serious says that financial cooperatives fared better than the big incidents of abuse in some fisheries and fishing vessels. investor-owned banks during the economic crisis. ~*~*~ ~*~*~ The first results of the UN „My World‟ global survey, which According to the ILO Global Wage Report 2012/2013, in the asked people in 190 countries for their priorities for a post- last decade, real wages – adjusted to reflect purchasing 2015 development agenda, show that “jobs are a high power – had doubled in Asia, almost tripled in Eastern priority everywhere.” Europe and Central Asia and increased by 15 per cent in ~*~*~ Latin America. That compares with a rise of just five per cent in developed economies. ~*~*~

For more information and details regarding the snippets given above and a lot more, please visit the ILO website: http://www.ilo.org

Help make Decent Work for All a reality! Follow ILO on

https://twitter.com/ilonews https://www.facebook.com/ILO.ORG http://www.youtube.com/ilotv http://iloblog.org/

We welcome your suggestions and contributions. Please write to us.

Editorial Management & Advice: Ms. Tine Staermose, Director and Ms. Panudda Boonpala, Deputy Director. Editor: Mr. Anandan P. Menon

ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia & Country Office for India We‟re on the web! www.ilo.org/india Phone: +91-11-24602101 Core 4B, 3rd Floor, India Habitat Centre Fax: +91-11-24602111 Promoting jobs, protecting people Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003, India E-mail: [email protected]