New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Friday that India possesses the potential to emerge as one of the world's largest providers of skilled workforce.

During the 4th G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) and Labour and Employment Ministers' Meetings held in Madhya Pradesh's Indore from July 19, PM Modi emphasized that technology will remain the driving force for employment in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Expressing confidence that the meeting would send a strong message for the welfare of workers worldwide, the Prime Minister hailed the fact that this crucial gathering took place in a country that had previously created numerous technology jobs during a technology-led transformation. Notably, Indore, known for its burgeoning startup ecosystem, was leading the charge in this new wave of transformation.

PM Modi called for globalizing the development and sharing of skills, particularly in light of the forthcoming reality of a mobile workforce on a global scale. He urged the G20 to take a leading role in this endeavor and praised their efforts to initiate the international referencing of occupations by skills and qualifications requirements.

Recognizing employment as a critical economic and social factor, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of preparing responsive and effective strategies to address the rapid transitions in the employment sector.

He underlined the need to upskill and reskill the workforce in the use of advanced technologies and processes, pointing to India's Skill India Mission as a campaign that actively addresses this demand. PM Modi highlighted the success of India's 'Skill India Mission' and the 'Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana,' which has provided training to over 12.5 million Indian youths thus far. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of focusing on 'Industry Four Point O' sectors, such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things, and Drones.

Commending the dedication and skills of India's frontline health workers during the Covid pandemic, PM Modi praised India's culture of service and compassion.

The Prime Minister encouraged member nations to pursue new models of international cooperation and coordination, along with migration and mobility partnerships. He proposed sharing statistics, information, and data concerning employers and workers as a starting point, empowering countries to formulate evidence-based policies for better skilling, workforce planning, and gainful employment.

Drawing attention to transformative changes, PM Modi highlighted the emergence of new categories of workers in the gig and platform economy, which proved to be resilient during the pandemic. He noted that such arrangements offer flexible working opportunities and complement income sources, making them an invaluable source of gainful employment, particularly for the youth and a transformative tool for socio-economic empowerment, especially for women.

PM Modi also highlighted the 'eShram portal,' which has seen nearly 280 million registrations, being leveraged for targeted interventions to benefit these workers. He encouraged other countries to adopt similar solutions, recognizing that the nature of work has become transnational.

In terms of social protection, PM Modi emphasized that the current framework adopted by international organizations needs to account for benefits structured in various forms, such as universal public health, food security, insurance, and pension programs, to accurately reflect the social protection coverage in India. He stressed the importance of considering the unique economic capacities, strengths, and challenges of each country, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, for sustainable financing of social protection.

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