The second day of the G20 EWG meeting in Brasilia focused on the follow-up of India’s G20 presidency commitments, including developing an international reference classification of occupations and skills, and empowering women at the workplace. India emphasized the need for global skills mapping and the empowerment of women.
India’s Secretary, Labour & Employment, Sumita Dawra, highlighted the progress made towards global skill harmonization through a feasibility study conducted by ILO and OECD. Sessions delved into care policies, equal pay, and the impact on gender equality at work. India showcased its initiatives like the Time Use Survey, Palna Scheme, and the Code on Social Security 2020.
Pay disparity between genders was another crucial agenda, with India citing efforts like the newly enacted Code on Wages, 2019, and schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Skill India Mission to bridge the gender pay gap. India’s progress in closing the pay gap and implementing equal match fees for male and female cricket players was highlighted in the meeting.
The G20 concluded with discussions on equality in the world of work, emphasizing its economic importance. India’s multifaceted approach to enhance female workforce participation equally, through legislative and schematic interventions like the National Education Policy 2020 and initiatives for women in STEM fields, received appreciation. The government’s move to reserve one-third of seats for women in legislative bodies and efforts to increase women’s representation in armed forces were well-received.
The G20 countries expressed their commitment to advancing gender equality, diversity at the workplace, and social security. India’s proactive efforts in facilitating women empowerment and bridging the gender pay gap through various schemes and legislative measures were recognized at the forum. The importance of continuing collaborative efforts for gender equality and diversity was reiterated at the meeting.
