Mandaviya calls for collective efforts to advance social justice
Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday called for collective efforts to put social justice at the centre of global efforts to build an inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.
Addressing the Global Coalition for Social Justice Annual Forum 2026 virtually, Mandaviya said the global community's shared objective should be to translate cooperation into opportunities, economic growth into shared prosperity and commitments to social justice into tangible change.
He said India brought to the forum its experience of delivering transformation at scale and its commitment to building a more inclusive world of work.
Emphasising that economic growth and social progress must move together, Mandaviya said growth should create decent jobs, technology should promote inclusion and innovation should improve people's lives.
India is preparing for the future of work through technology, skills and international cooperation, he said, while underlining the need for greater focus on skills, employability and labour mobility as the nature of work changes.
In this context, he highlighted India's partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to pilot an International Reference Classification of Occupations across India, Brazil and Germany to facilitate smoother international mobility.
Mandaviya also referred to the New Delhi Declaration 2026 adopted under India's BRICS presidency and the BRICS CONNECT initiative, as well as the consensus on an International Digital Platform for Remote Employment aimed at creating new virtual employment opportunities for young people across the Global South.
He further highlighted the role of sustained reforms and digital delivery in expanding social protection.
India's social protection coverage has increased from 19 per cent in 2015 to 68.4 per cent in 2026, bringing more than one billion people under the social protection framework, he said.
Mandaviya also highlighted the role of Digital Public Infrastructure in strengthening delivery of social protection schemes.
The e-Shram portal, with nearly 320 million registered unorganised workers, is the world's largest digital database of its kind and connects workers with welfare schemes run by the Centre and state governments, he said.
The Global Coalition for Social Justice was established by the ILO in 2023 as a platform to strengthen multi-stakeholder cooperation and accelerate collective action for decent work and social justice.
The coalition has more than 400 partners, including governments, employers' and workers' organisations, international and regional organisations, development banks, the private sector, academia and civil society.
It seeks to promote integrated approaches to advance social justice, expand opportunities, foster shared prosperity and contribute to resilient societies.
The Global Coalition for Social Justice Annual Forum 2026 is being held virtually on September 16 and 17, ahead of the high-level General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The forum provides a platform for partners to share experiences and lessons, review progress, identify opportunities for collaboration and shape future collective action.
